First Snowfall

I haven't been around for almost two months and was worried that the cranes might be gone before I returned. After rushing to beat the storm on Saturday it was a nice to see them again.
Dale

Look twice...

In the fall of 2008, 3 endangered Whooping Cranes were spotted at Fish Lake SWA and in the fall of 2009 one of those 3 returned to roost at Crex Meadows with the Sandhills. Currently there are estimated to be around 17,000 Sandhills in the area. During the day they go out to feed in the surrounding fields so as I'm driving around, I'm scanning the fields hoping to catch another sighting of a Whooper. This Sandhill in a field near County Road M south of Crex made me look twice.

The Sense of Smell

These images were taken in total darkness emphasizing the curiosity and keen sense of smell of this wolf. A large bear checked this camera out and probably licked it a few days earlier. The camera moving without the wolf in view is when it was nudging the camera. The red light flashes did not seem to bother it. The camera has been repositioned, we'll see if it was still attracted to it the next time the memory card is exchanged.

Millions of blackbirds

Several migrating songbird species are passing through but the most impressive are the redwing blackbirds.

Crane Season

The cranes are back in the refuge and roosting much closer this year than last year. The numbers are not very high yet but a good north wind will change that.

Fall Color

Bright and sunny did not last very long this morning. Sunrise was flat with some high clouds and the cranes were moving south off the Refuge continuously for the first hour after sunrise. Leaves are falling with the high wind but color should remain for a few days.

What was that?

This bear which I have dubbed big ears has been camera trapped several times at a couple different locations. At a previous camera location she may have been the bear that bent a rebar post to almost 90 degrees, try that some time. I think it was used as a scratching post. The same camera has been put at my all time favorite location monitoring a wolf scent post where this photo was taken.