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Sunday, August 14, 2016

Seen on the drive in to work...

You never know what you may see on a normal drive to work!  Last week I was driving on the back roads to work, as I often do.  These are country roads, with very few cars and lots of open fields.  I often come across deer, a bunny or two, maybe a woodchuck or an opossum.  However, on this day, as I went past a field I thought "what was that I just passed?"  Since it was a quiet road with no one around, I backed up, and saw this!


These are sandhill cranes. I occasionally see them flying but have never seen them just standing in a field.  They stand 3-4 feet tall.



They didn't seem to be at all bothered by the car that stopped on the side of the road about 15 feet from them.


They just ignored the lady in the car when she opened her window and started taking pictures.



I couldn't stay and watch them or I would have been late, but they certainly were interesting.

21 comments:

Deb J. in Utah said...

Very interesting. I have never seen those in person. Great pictures. I love the diversity of nature! Have a great week!

Jennifer Hays said...

Very interesting, Mari. You know, those same cranes might be flying over my head in a few weeks during the massive sandhill crane migration to Bosque del Apache, a bird refuge in southern New Mexico which gets a massive influx of wintering sandhill cranes every year. I've never seen them coming down, but I've twice seen them flying back north in the spring and it's an incredible sight (and sound, they're extremely noisy!).

Joyful said...

What a happy surprise to find such interesting birds on your way to work.

Hootin Anni said...

I can't wait for them to return to our area for the winter months!! They're so cool. And you can hear their 'calling' from miles away before they make landfall.

Exceptional images.

Heather said...

Wow. I have never seen them on the ground before. So cool!

Terri D said...

Whether we are ready for it or not, it's just about time for the birds to begin heading south. Great photos, Mari! One could probably make up a good story about the two of them and what they were doing in that field!

Linda said...

Awesome Mary...soon it will be time for the Canadian geese (they grace our waterways here) to be flying south....smiles

Arlene G said...

We are on the migration path for the Sandhill cranes and they stop at the Wheeler Wildlife refuge in great numbers. It is funny to see just two of them...maybe they got an itch to get out by themselves.:)

Cherdecor said...

Chad would love to get a pictures of the Sandhill cranes. I see some red on them. I will have to show your pictures to Chad. He will know exactly what kind of Sandhill cranes they are.

Sally said...

Well, look at that. They were waiting for you before flying off. :)

xoxo

Patsy said...

Wow! what a treat to see them up close.

Ramblings of a Retired Lady said...

WOW, how interesting and something new to see. Thanks for sharing the pictures of them.

Bethany Carson said...

Oh wow! I'm so glad you stopped to take pictures! Those are neat birds--how neat to see them on your way to work!

Beth Cotell said...

How beautiful!!! What an interesting bird!

carrie@northwoods scrapbook said...

OH goodness - wonderful photo capture Mari!! So cool!! I would have done a double take too. Lol

Hope you have a wonderful week ahead Babes! xoxo

Karen said...

Great picture, Mari. It's so neat to see them up close.

Doris said...

So cool!!

Jenny said...

Good grief, Mari! That's so awesome! I'd freak out if I saw cranes so close. I love those things. That's the best bird-by-the-side-of-the-road shot I've seen since I got my buzzard pictures last year. haaahaha. xoxo

Saija said...

that is so cool! smile maker! :D

Anonymous said...

That is wild! Can't believe you were able to capture photos!

Laura said...

That's so cool! We saw one once when we were on a walk by the river. We see blue herons a lot too since they like to fly to the lake near us.