Tag Archives: sandhill

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

The Cranes Return

December 15, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Lesser sandhill cranes return to wetland marshes in fading dusk light

There is a natural cycle to the day during the winter at these San Joaquin Valley wetland marshes — actually there are multiple cycles. One is the cycle of the animals themselves, responding to the dawn, moving to daytime activities, coming and going, then settling in once again for the night. Another is the cycle of the photographer or viewer of this wildlife, whose own patterns are inextricably linked to those of the birds and the light, but who also may sometimes choose when and where to focus efforts.

The midday and early afternoon hours are, at least most of the time, relatively quiet and slow. It makes sense that during the times of day when conditions are the most stable that the birds would also be more settled. (There are seasonal exceptions, including the late winter time when the winter residence of many birds is coming to an end and another migration cycle is about to begin.) The evening brings another transition, and one of the final and most impressive moments often comes after sunset with the dusk fly-in of the sandhill cranes. Long strings of these birds appear (usually from the south in this place), flying low and straight paths toward the places where they will land and spend the night.

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

Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Dancing Cranes, Fog

December 12, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

Two lesser sandhill cranes raise their wings to greet the dawn on a foggy morning

I arrived here, a location familiar to me, before dawn and in thickening fog. Although the place is familiar, each return brings the sudden shock of getting out of my vehicle after a long drive and hearing the wild sounds of thousands of migratory birds spread out across the acreage of this place. It is a sound like no other, especially in pre-dawn fog when the birds are not yet visible, and it always brings a smile to my face.

I headed toward an area where I anticipate finding several familiar kinds of birds: stilts in ponds next to the levee road, a rugged individualist egret or two (or perhaps a small group of cattle egrets), a pond surrounded by brush with roosting night herons (the pond was dry this time), geese almost anywhere, and off in the distance perhaps some cranes or white pelicans. The latter two kinds of birds were barely visible through the fog, but this pair was a bit closer. As the first very faint sunlight began to arrive they spread their wings and stretched.

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: Northern California, Photographs: Wildlife

Sandhill Cranes, Island, Fog

December 7, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A group of sandhill cranes stands on a small wetland island on a foggy morning

I love the Central Valley tule fog during this part of the year — perhaps not for driving, but when it comes to creating moody and interesting atmosphere, the fog produces. In fact, quite often I’ll check the weather forecast before heading that way during gate late-fall through early spring period, and if the weather looks too nice I won’t go. But if the weather calls for fog, I’m on my way! This visit started out to be an exception to that rule, since the weather forecast did not mention fog at all. But when I checked the current conditions before departing there was an indication that some fog had developed in a few areas.

My drive, 100 miles done entirely in pre-dawn darkness, did not suggest fog… until I left the final town before arriving at my slightly remote location. I immediately encountered a surprise fog bank, and it only got thicker as I turned off the main highway onto narrow country roads. I arrived at my destination in freezing temperatures and light fog which continued to thicken for the next hour. These lesser sandhill cranes were hanging out in a spot where I can reliably find them early in the morning, though they were a pretty good distance off across a network of wetland ponds. This group was assembled on a small island, and they must have been comfortable there, as they were the last group to finally take to the air and fly off.

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

Cranes in Rain

November 7, 2016 G Dan Mitchell Leave a comment

A group of sandhill cranes stands in a wetland pond during a rain storm

As fall arrives I look forward to many interesting photographic opportunities: the storms and surf along the California coast, the dramatic effects of fog and clouds on the landscape, the return of migratory birds to the state, especially in the Great Central Valley. The bird photographer really doesn’t begin in earnest until perhaps late November or December, with some of the best opportunities coming even a bit later, but that doesn’t stop me from testing the waters earlier if I hear that birds have arrived.

In fact, I had heard reports that sandhill cranes have been showing up in the valley for weeks, and a late-October visit to the Sierra provided me with an opportunity to do a bit of reconnaissance. On my way across the valley to the mountains I paused at a wetland area to see what I could find. It turned out that the main thing I found was rain! It wasn’t raining when I arrived, but soon a front moved through and absolutely poured on me, to the point that I was only able to make a few photographs. One of them was this photograph of a somewhat forlorn group of sandhill cranes, hunkered down in a pond,facing into the wind, and waiting out the storm.

G Dan Mitchell Photography

Tag Archives: sandhill

The Cranes Return

Dancing Cranes, Fog

Cranes in Rain

Photographer and visual opportunist. Daily photos since 2005, plus articles, reviews, news, and ideas.