Take note: Linked posts MUST have shared bird photos in the post somewhere!!
AMERICAN KESTREL
photos taken: Just outside Flour Bluff, Texas
habitat range: Kestrel
Now, share your birding experiences:
This last month has been a doozy for me. I've been witness to a lot of good stuff; different stuff. I don't know which to post about first. Last week I mentioned the influx of duck migration. Every and any water area, large or small, the ducks are there. I've conversed through emails with another avid birder from this area of Texas. He told me about a wood duck that was spotted just a few miles from my home. I have only once seen a wood duck [male, at that] in my lifetime. And, that was nearly 30 years ago; in Colorado. I wasn't 'into' birding like I am now...so never took a photo of it. Now, I want to see one badly and can't seem to find one to photograph. Bud and I hopped in the car to go to the area John told me about, and we found the hidden pond just off the road...as soon as I opened the car window to lift my camera toward the pond dozens of ducks flew away...we were warned before we left home that these ducks are particularly skittish. I dropped my camera to watch them, and saw only redheads and mottled ducks fly to the sky. That day, no wood duck.
While the car windows were wide open the distant calls from Sandhill Cranes were heard. If you've ever heard them, you know then, that the cranes can be heard from miles away. Anyway we left the hidden pond area and went down another country road...
...we found the Sandhill Cranes. They were on a horse ranch property near a small watering hole on the pasture---
Where there is livestock, you're bound to see vultures. Atop a power pole nearby the ranchland, a Black Vulture waited patiently.
...we drove back to the same area the following day in hopes of seeing the duck, but this time, no ducks at all on the pond when we arrived. Taking the same back road to return to the main street to head back to the freeway, I stopped to take a panoramic view of the Sandhill Cranes. When I got home to get the photos off the SD card, I spied a killdeer [take note of white arrow] on the same field as the cranes. Didn't notice it when out there with the camera. I guess, at the time, I was too busy concentrating on another bird ---
Sandhill Cranes & in the distance: Killdeer
---the 'other' bird was an American Kestrel that flew up onto a power pole and cleaned itself up. Only to fly back down to the pasture for dessert!
AMERICAN KESTREL
photos taken: Just outside Flour Bluff, Texas
habitat range: Kestrel
Now, share your birding experiences:
These are beautiful birds ! Especially, I love to admire birds in flight ! Anni, your shots are wonderful as always !
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend :)
...thanks very much Ela
Deletelove the kestrels but they are so skittish. :) great sandhill sightings!
ReplyDelete...thanks Ms. T
DeleteSounds like your winter duck are like ours Anni - constantly shot at by hunters and so consequently very wary of birders.
ReplyDeleteA field full of Sandhill Cranes is rather special, at least for me in the UK, as is an American Kestrel as a change from our Common old European Kestrel. Good to see they share the same habits and keeping an eye on telegraph poles is always a good plan.
Thanks for hosting again and Best Wishes to you and your Better Half.
Ya, that probably has a lot to do with their distrust of us birders...they see the black and lenses...and figure they're gonna get injured or worse.
DeleteAn amazing post and fantastic photos!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
thank you kindly Mary
DeleteNice variety of birds, especially the Sandhill Cranes and their deer friend. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete....I like the play on words here Doug...a deer friend [as in dear friend] get it?
Deletegreat sightings this week ... love the cranes.
ReplyDelete...thanks Linda
Deletelove the jays and the kestrels
ReplyDelete...thanks Gerald
DeleteWood Ducks are marvelous, I have never seen a real one. But how much better the cranes are!!! Tall, graceful, exotic. and the Kestrel on the ground! I have only seen them on wires. No wood ducks today, but a post still full of beauties!
ReplyDelete...thanks Ginny. I too hope to someday see another wood duck with camera in hand!!
DeleteGreat post- the Sandhill cranes are a sight to see- I can imagine I would also try to follow their calls to get a view of them.
ReplyDelete...thanks Terri. Thing is with those crane calls, sometimes it's difficult to tell just where they may be located.
DeleteAmazing pictures of the Cranes and the Kestrel. I do hope you get a chance to photograph a male Wood Duck. The are just stunning.
ReplyDeleteI hope to someday find one and get a good photo of it. The male especially. LOL
Deletethanks Ruth.
Loved the kestrel! Maybe you'll get that wood duck photo before too long! Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!~ I'll be back tomorrow to link in.
ReplyDelete...thanks. I'll be sure to check back later to see what you share with us this week Marie.
DeleteI hope you will get to see your Wood Duck, Anni! We have quite a few of them here, but I still get excited because they are so colourful. Love the Sandhill Cranes.. oh and must say also that I loved the title of your post. I have only seen Sandhill Cranes a couple of times when we went to Reifel Bird Sanctuary (when we had the truck.. too far to ride our bikes there). The Kestrel is a little beauty! Without a vehicle, our bird watching tends to find the same ones over and over, and so I haven't posted on your meme, thinking my sightings would feel very dull to most readers. (Though not to me :) Tupper, sadly, disappeared a couple of months ago.) However, today, a Barred Owl was spotted in downtown Vancouver, and so I shared my post. Had to rush out when I posted, but came back now to write some comments :) Many thanks for hosting!
ReplyDelete...thanks Carol. I'm happy to have you share your owl adventure.
DeleteI love the cranes and the kestrel. I wish you a peaceful Sunday!
ReplyDeleteHow cool is this post with the Sandhill Cranes. Always enjoy your posts. My new DIL's father is as he puts it an obsessive birder. We are already planning some adventures soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm lost if I don't get out to bird a few areas here and there.
DeleteThanks Janice
What a great title! And crane shots.
ReplyDelete...thanks Sharon,.
Deletethe sandhill crane is a beauty but nothing compared to my favourite, the Kestrel.
ReplyDeleteFrom your first sentence I guess you too gets some people who only advertises their own :( It spoils our memes. And the interest in them. But I´m glad you have a lot to share. Where I live I would be posting the same bird over and over again if I did not travel.
I had one linking in with no birds on the post!!!
DeleteThanks for visiting and linking.
I have only seen the Sandhill Crane once, when we went down to Florida. It was exciting to come across them by chance. Wonderful sightings for you Anni. I am a little late but I took a photo of a Cardinal yesterday and am linking it in. Have a great week :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise....your cardinal images this week are fabulous.
DeleteNora....it's so wonderful having you back, blogging and sharing your birds with us!!! I would love for you to send me some wood ducks. Maybe someday soon I'll find some.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Anni. Love the cranes.
ReplyDelete...thanks!! I'm glad to know you enjoyed the cranes.
DeleteAnni, I am so far behind in blogging. Last night I was all set to get caught up; however, I was so tired I wanted to do it on the sofa with the iPad. I get 1/4 way through and Feedly starts acting like a brat. I'd open a link and it would freeze. After three freezes I gave up.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, your photos of the Sandhill Cranes and Vulture are so amazing. Your photography skills are improving each time! Nice spotting of the Kestrel. An area close to us in Louisiana is working on increasing the SC population. They're keeping the area secret because people will either keep them from reproducing by their intrusions or they are shot. So sad.
Come visit me and you can see all the wood ducks you want. But they are very skittish.
I'd LOVE to go birding with you Gail. We'd have so much fun. Thanks.
DeleteBeautiful birds, Anni. I hope you find a Wood Duck soon.
ReplyDelete...thanks Pat. I hope to spot one someday in the near future.
DeleteWOW .... great that cranes !!!!! I find it so beautiful! But your black vulture is beautiful to see and what a gorgeous beautiful crisp and clear pictures! Also an American kestrel. Three beautiful birds!
ReplyDeleteI put a link to an older kestrel but I do not know whether it would even be allowed, but I hear that is.
Greetings, Helma
...thanks Helma
DeleteThose black vultures sure get around, don't they?
ReplyDeleteI got some pictures of sandhill cranes when I was golfing in Tampa Bay once. They did not care one whit about the golfers running around.
~
...they can be pretty 'tame' in some areas. Yep, three of us posted vulture images. Ironic.
DeleteFun a kestrel! I do so love hearing the cranes all summer here (they nest down by the lake). Your vulture is cool - we don't have black ones here, just turkey vultures so that is a treat!
ReplyDeleteLove the cranes! The ones I saw in Muleshoe this weekend didn't let us get that close.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, american kestrels are so pretty! And those cranes with their red head are also pretty. I liked to click on the maps, some of these birds can be found in Virginia too!
ReplyDelete