Saturday, January 6, 2018

Sandhill Cranes

We walked out to the driveway to get into the car and heard the funniest sound….it sounded like honking!

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So we looked up into the sky and watched as flocks and flocks of Sandhill Cranes flew over.

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I went back into the house to put the photos onto my computer to take a better look and my husband came back in to get me.

MORE Sandhill Cranes were flying over!

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Many flew over in a vee formation like geese do.

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I’m showing most of these photos straight out of my camera.

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You can see them the way we saw them.

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And you’ll just have to imagine this part….

Honk Honk Honk!

When I looked back at my photos from last year, I found these from exactly a year ago!

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Sandhill Cranes we saw at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

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They aren’t rare to see around here but normally you only see a few at one time.

What a treat to see so many migrating. The other bird we saw migrating over the Christmas week was the American Robin. They showed up by the hundreds on their way South. We saw them every day for about a week and then they were gone!

We’ve had some very cold weather here but we did not have any frozen precipitation or snow like they had in North Florida. I’m glad! And it’s supposed to be around 70 every day this coming week. That’s more what we’re used to this far South! I hope you are all safe and warm! Take care!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

37 comments:

The Bear's Blog said...

Good Morning, a mere 7* here this a.m. but no snow (sadly).

Hugs

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Awesome sighting and photos of the Sandhill Cranes in flight.
I miss the birds and the warm weather in Florida this year, it is cold here.

Thank you so much for linking up your post! Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Jeanie said...

rick gave me a new super-size monitor for Christmas so now I can enjoy your bird photos as they should be -- big! That sandhill crane is to die for.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

A flock of Sandhill Cranes is always a great sight, truly one of nature's amazing spectacles. And they always seem to provide a chorus to accompany their flight. If I saw it a thousand times a day I could never tire of it.

Arlene G said...

Diane, the Sandhill Cranes stop here in Decatur for about three weeks as they migrate and we are expecting them in a week or so. Lots of people head to the Wheeler Basin Refuge to get pictures of them. They are impressive in a large group.

Anonymous said...

Love how you can identify them. We have a flock, seem to be cranes of some sort, fly over our house (two min from the ocean) every day just before sundown. Going home. :) I love saying good night to them every day.

Catching up today. What a journey last year for you, but I'm glad your husband is doing better.
Enjoy our perfect weather, sis. I love it too.
xoxo

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

wonderful

I don't think I've ever seen more than five/six at a time ever

Lea said...

Wonderful!
I have a friend in Kentucky who sees the Sandhill Cranes as they migrate. I am so envious of both of you
Have a great week-end!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

How cool to see them migrate! When I lived in Mississippi I would see them.

Vee said...

That must have been a wonderful sight and sound to experience. Now I’m wondering where robins migrate to. I am feeling quite sad for the chickadees as they make their way through a very frigid time in my corner.

Linda said...

What a treat! I’ve not seen anything like this before! You were Johnny-on-the-spot getting those photos! Good job!

Jenn Jilks said...

Ours are gone, gone, gone! It's so cold!!!!
Happy New Year!

Maggie Ann said...

I loved seeing the crane pictures, I had goosebumps! and the 'honk, honk' part made me smile. You enjoy that 70 degree weather for me too please. Its freezing cold here in Pa. I like your posts so much, and I was sorry to hear about your hubby's health problem being so severe. I hope the pain is very seldom and not then either.

Our son is home for the week-end and its a pleasure for us.

Victoria said...

Gorgeous photos! I love the Sandhill Cranes in flight, such a treat to see.

Anonymous said...

they do make a terrific racket when they fly over don't they, I wonder if they are the same ones that spent the summer here in our fields lol,, could be,, they do go south every Fall. Such beautiful photos!

Buttercup said...

I'll imagine the honking and dream of the warm air around you. Happy Saturday!

Anonymous said...

Although I know nothing about Sand-hill Cranes, like other species affected by this cold , I would say they were traveling to find warmth...great shots!...:)JP

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

What an exciting event to experience! That sure is a lot of cranes! I don't blame them for heading for warmer climates, lol! You got some great shots of them. I'm glad you didn't have to experience the freezing temps that other places have. Here in the northwest where we are used to such things, our temps today are in the 40s, and raining..., weather is crazy, lol! Hugs to you today Diane, and thank you for your visit to my blog :)

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

What a lovely sight, Diane. I imagine they are headed further south. Enjoy your lovely weather. We are having low temperatures, but it's supposed to get more seasonal next week. I'm looking forward to going outside without my face freezing! ♥

happyone said...

What a treat that must have been to see and here so many birds flying above.
I am one of those who actually like winter and enjoy the snow. If you have the right clothes you do stay warm. : ) We lived in PR for 3 years and I really missed winter.

Cherdecor said...

More than a week ago, Sandhill Cranes flew over our house heading south. I wonder if you live in a flyway too. We didn't get any picture, but I am glad that you got some. Lovely pictures.

Lynn said...

Cool birds! Hope all is well your way!

Betty J. Crow said...

They are beautiful birds. Lucky you to get to see so many.

Carla from The River said...

Hi,
We have Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin during the spring, summer and autumn. Maybe one of those is from Wisconsin. ;-) I would love to fly South too! We woke to -21 degrees AGAIN! Two weeks of awful cold.
Great photos!!

Angie said...

Diane - super shots! I have only ever seen them in a zoo! Can't imagine seeing that many flying in formation! Have a honkin' good week!

Terri D said...

What a great experience and the photos are amazing! Yes, we see one or two now and then but never numbers like that! Wow!

Linda said...

Love these cranes!

BeachGypsy said...

wow, I bet it was neat to see them going over, and so many of them! Look how long they stretch their necks out! It's supposed to be back to the 70s here by next weekend and mercy am I ever ready for it!--I am not enjoying this awful cold snap at all! ha ha ha LOL I feel cold even INSIDE A WARM HOUSE!! LOL We havent' walked much at all the past 4 days....it's TOO SLICK!! Just frozen solid ice. Hope your weekend is going well, we venture out for fresh air and go to store if needed, otherwise been doing little home projects and staying in and reading alot, and putting away Christmas decor.

Phil Slade said...

The see migration in action is a great thrill. To imagine the hundreds, often thousands of miles the birds fly and how they do it, often at night. Amazing. The robins must have been quite an experience and I'm thinking you probably live quite close to, if not on, a traditional migration routing.

Hootin Anni said...

Thank you so much for joining us birders this week at I'd Rather B Birdin'. Hope you can return again throughout 2018.

Beautiful!! I LOVE hearing them from a distance & then finally spotting these beauties!

Sam I Am...... said...

What a great sighting! I guess the birds were taking their time migrating until the frigid cold came early and then there was a mad rush to go South! Glad you stayed free of the bad weather. It is really cold here but today is rain and 40's and by Wednesday 60's...it will feel like summer compared to the cold we've had! LOL!

A Colorful World said...

How exciting! Loved your photos! And boy, 70 degrees! Everyone who reads this will be so jealous! :-)

Jean said...

Great photos of the Sand hill cranes. Enjoyed seeing them. Been on my bucket list for a few years now to go a place in Nebraska where they migrate through,maybe this year. Never think of robins as migrating since they tend to be so abundant around here even in the late fall months and reading this, I just realized I haven't seen in any in a few weeks.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Same kind of weather here --- so glad to see it warming up. Wonderful sandhill pictures -- I haven't seen that many since we were in New Mexico in the Fall migration. And we never have robins here in SW Florida ever! Tons of them in Oregon -- they are the most common bird there.

Lowcarb team member said...

Loved seeing your photo's ...

All the best Jan

Red Rose Alley said...

That is a wonderful picture of the Sandhill Crane. I never see these birds around here. How unusual.....a white feathered body and a red head. What a pretty fellow.

~Sheri

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Oh my - I shall forever be your most jealous friend - I do so love the cranes. We saw flocks and flocks of them in our Wisconsin visit 4 years ago. Honk Honk HOnk!