It's always fun to drive out to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve and hike the trail from the Pruitt trailhead.
And there are usually good sightings when you drive in the front gate.
I was happy to see the Sandhill Crane family, alive and well.
It was funny though when I stopped and hopped out of the Jeep to take the photos.
My camera fogged over from all of the humidity!
But I waved it around and luckily the Crane family stayed close by their photo shoot!
I think this bird is a young Mockingbird.
It always confuses me because they seem more tan than gray.
I KNOW what this bird is! haha!
Northern Cardinal
I thought this was a small grasshopper with really long antennas but now I wonder if it a katydid. Anyone know?
Lots of beautiful plants and wildflowers this summer.
We've had summer pop up showers and that helps.
Oh and now we've finished the hike and I'm driving the Jeep back out on the gravel road.
And look what I saw!
Papa Crane was crossing the road ahead of me. Mama and young one were already across. I slowed down and waited!
Have a wonderful weekend! Take your time!
45 comments:
You had a nice excursion!
We have a family of Sandhill Cranes too. the young one has an injured wing - but this morning I think I saw it fly. If it wasn't a different 3 member family.
I'm pretty sure tha i's a katydid.
Ed
...Sandhill Cranes are a sight that I rarely see here. Thanks for sharing your fabulous sightings.
I really love your blog. I started following you recently, and I am really enjoying having a vicarious visit with nature.
sand hills are thrilling to see, we have seen several of them on the side of the road driving to our eye doctor. they must live in a pond close by.
Look who has returned. I'm trying to keep up the Garden Spot Blog. Love to read about the sand hill cranes. They migrate through here, so we drive a few miles north where they hang out at the farm ponds and in the fallow corn fields for a few weeks then move on. Thousands of them. What a site. Wish we had cardinals!
Those are cute lil' duckies on your car dashboard!
What a delight to be with you and to see all of these creatures! Thanks very much Aloha
❤️
Nice that crane family stuck around for you to get pictures.
Sandhill Cranes are beautiful birds. I didn't realize how large they are!
Always a fan to see cardinal and herons
I like the cardinals on the posts.
I always love seeing your photos!!
Enjoyed the hike! What are those pretty red birds?? Ha ha LOL. Have a nice weekend, get outside if you have nice weather. Hugs!!
What a great series of photos.
The Cranes and the Northern Cardinal are my favorites this time.
I wish you a good weekend.
Greetings Irma
Hello Diane,
Beautiful outing and photos. I love the Sandhill Crane family.
Beautiful captures of the butterflies and flowers.
The young birds can be hard to id at times. I think you are correct with the young Mockingbird. Pretty Cardinal photos.
Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a wonderful weekend.
Beautiful photos of the cranes and other birds. Have a nice weekend !
I love seeing the Sandhill cranes! Lucky you!
Hello. Nice looking place. Great bird sightings.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Wonderful series of nature photos ~ especially like the Crane family and the little katydid ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
What a great photo op! Loved seeing your sandhill cranes. We'll be hearing ours going overhead soon as flocks head south. I wonder if they fly to your area from our westerly northerly parts in Canada. I'll have to check it out. Thanks, Diane, for another beautiful post.
Sandhill cranes have been multiplying over quite a large range. There were only a few here in Michigan some years ago, and now they breed in several parks and wildlife areas. Some now winter here instead of migrating. Great photos!
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
The red cardinal is such a beauty. It's the one bird we don't see in my area. So glad you got some rain. It always makes everything clean and fresh again. Love those little duckies on your jeep. ; )
Happy September, Diane!
~Sheri
The Sandhill Cranes are so beautiful! Lovely photos!
The Crane family are a friendly bunch, glad they let you photograph them. Have a lovely weekend.
I love your sandhill cranes. I am pretty sure I have never seen one live just in photos and videos. I would sure like to see one the wild.
I always enjoy going along on your hikes each week when you show us all the great pics. I've only seen the Cranes when we used to visit Florida years ago.
You had a fantastic outing at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve! Sandhill Cranes are always a treat to see, and it’s great that you were able to get some photos despite the camera fogging up. The humidity can definitely be a challenge for photography! I invite you to read my new post: www.melodyjacob.com
Nice to see the Sandhill Cranes, and the yellow ducks on your dashboard caught my eye ... I like them :)
All the best Jan
Oh wow! I did not know sandhill cranes were native to Florida. A few areas here make a big event out of the sandhill migration and make it revolve around festivals, etc. Love the cardinals...one of my favorite birds and rarely seen out here.
I love your shots of the Sandhill Crane family! They are beautiful! -Marci @ Old Rock Farmhouse
Delightful captures!
It's wonderful to see the Sandhill Crane family thriving. The photos are beautiful, and I love the other sightings too.
Terrific images from your hike. Any day which includes a Sandhill Crane family is a good day.
I think your Katydid may be one of the Meadow Katydids (Conocephalus species).
Fall is coming! Can you feel that cool air? Yeah, me neither.
Hope your weekend is a good one!
pretty shots...
never seen the Sandhill Crane in our areas
The cranes are beautiful, dear Diane - and I'm thrilled that they let you get so close and posed for you. I only know cranes in the wild when they're flying and far away...
Your other sightings also give me joy. I can now ID a cardinal too (I learned it in the bloger world)... but I only know them from photos from you and other American bloggers. How I would love to see one in the wild...
Unfortunately, Google Lens is also overwhelmed with the insect ID... But it only suggested various grasshoppers.
Hugs, all the best and a good new week, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/09/weltreise-2024-7-station-san-francisco.html
Hi Diane, As always, an interesting set of photos from your walks/hikes. I took your 7th image to Google Lens and here is what it said: Short-winged Meadow Katydid. So, shall we trust AI? 😊 Thanks, as always, for sharing. Wishing you and yours a happy week ahead! John
Delightful post! Have a good week.
What a lovely adventure!
Seeing the Sandhill Crane family must have been so special, even with the camera fog!
I love your description of the birds and the summer wildflowers.
Halpata Tastanaki Preserve sounds like a wonderful place to explore.
Enjoy your weekend, Diane!
Wonderful to see the family of Sandhill Cranes. You always have walks that are abundant with wildlife.
Todo se ve tan bonito, me encantan todas las aves y todas me gustan. Besos.
It's so nice to get out for those walks in nature. I enjoyed looking at your photos. I hope you enjoy the rest of the week.
tHE cRANES ARE SO MAJESTIC LOOKING, BUT MY FAVORITE IS THE CARDINAL! vERY NICE HIKE! HAVE A FUN WEEK! LOVE, AUNT HELEN
I love your photos, and your Sand Hill Crane family looks just like the one that lives here in our pond/yard! They have lots of cousins everywhere it seems! Love the young Mockingbird! Interesting coloring. And the Red Cardinals are always such a feast for the eyes. I enjoyed hiking with you here today. Thank you.
this was a great outing!! i have waved my camera, many times, in much the same way!! i do not know about the grasshopper but i am sure someone did!! the cardinal is gorgeous, i really like the way in which you shared it!! have a great weekend!!
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