Tag Archives: flock

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Winter Geese, Wetlands Dawn

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Winter Geese, Wetlands Dawn
Snow geese take to the air before sunrise above Central Valley wetlands.

Winter Geese, Wetlands Dawn. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Snow geese take to the air before sunrise above Central Valley wetlands.

The “fly-out” is one of the most impressive features of migratory goose behavior. At some point around dawn the birds leave their overnight nesting places and take to the sky in huge, dramatic groups that sometimes include many thousands of birds. It is hard to know precisely when it will happen, so you arrive early, find a likely spot, and wait for it.

On this morning I thought I had arrived in plenty of time, but a recalcitrant automated gate at the entrance to the area delayed my final arrival by perhaps ten minutes. Due to this slightly late start, I had little time to get into position before the fly-out occurred. Originally I had a plant to head to a particular location, but once I realized that the delay would make that improbable I stopped where I was — at the first pond full of geese — and assembled my gear… just barely in time to make this photograph.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Edge of the Flock

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Edge of the Flock
A large flock of migratory snow geese in a pond in California’s Central Valley.

Edge of the Flock. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A large flock of migratory snow geese in a pond in California’s Central Valley.

The conditions must be just right, you must arrive at the correct time, persistence is necessary, and a bit of luck is important. If all of this works out you may encounter stunningly large flocks of over-wintering migratory geese covering the landscape in parts of the Central Valley of California. If you are extra lucky and extra persistent one of the flocks may settle in right next to you.

I don’t know how many birds were in this flock, but it stretched across this large pond and over a great distance from side to side. The visual impact is obvious, but unless you are there you miss out on the sonic effect. The flock produces a constant audio drone, with sudden crescendos when a threat appears — and with that threat all of the birds’ heads rise straight up on their long necks until it passes.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Six Cranes in Flight

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Six Cranes in Flight
Six cranes in flight against California Central Valley winter sky

Six Cranes in Flight. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Six cranes in flight against California Central Valley winter sky.

This was a very cooperative flock of lesser sandhill cranes. Although, as expected, they did divert away from my position to avoid flying over me as they passed, the did face into the light in just the right way, and they managed to (intentionally, I’m sure!) coordinate their wing positions so that almost all of the basic wing positions are visible. Even more: not one of them blocks another bird, and all of them are completely visible.

I photographed this group on a late-winter day when I had gone to California’s Great Central Valley. Based on past years the departure of the great flocks of snow and Ross’s geese was only days away, and I hoped to photograph them one more time. The end of “goose season” (though a few other types of geese stick around) is perhaps the best time to photograph geese and cranes in their active modes. Huge flocks of both kinds of birds are around, and they are often easier to photograph at this time of year.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Into The Air

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Into The Air
Lesser sandhill cranes rise from a wetland pond into foggy Central Valley winter sky.

Into The Air. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Lesser sandhill cranes rise from a wetland pond into foggy Central Valley winter sky.

Although this isn’t glorious dawn light, it is rather typical of what you’ll find in places like this one on a late-winter morning around sunrise — some combination of fog, a bit of haze, and (on this morning) some high clouds. All of this combines to produce an atmosphere suggesting cold, damp, stillness, and quiet. (Though the cries of a few thousand birds may interfere with the “quiet” part of that.)

As the first light begins, the sandhill cranes are mostly standing in shallow wet areas, presumably for protection from predators. As sunrise approaches they begin to become more active, and gradually small groups begin to take to the sky and fly off to distant locations. Unlike geese, who often take off by the thousands, the cranes tend to depart in groups of two or three, and rarely more than a dozen. The hints of their imminent departure can be subtle, and I often get barely any warning before they take off. Among the birds in this photograph you can spot individuals at almost every stage of departure, from standing and waiting through fully airborne.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.