Kip’s Comments - April 6, 2024
Some Action
Just before today’s winds kicked up I paddled on Segment A at Sweet Marsh. I did not see any species I had not seen many times before, but did find enough common species to shoot some photos. Following are a few of the many images recorded.
Bufflehead - Image 871237
Northern Shoveler - Image 871269
Trumpeter Swans - Image 871557
Trumpeter Swans - Image 871581
Trumpeter Swans - Image 871593
Canada Geese - Image 871251
American Coot - Image 871078
American Coot - Image 871271
Hooded Mergansers - Image 871781
Now for non-waterfowl species…
Pectoral Sandpiper - Image 871535
Sandhill Crane in Flight - Image 871541
Yellowlegs - Image 871710
Finally - I went to check on the injured sandhill crane from this past week. Everything needed for capture was with me, assuming I found the bird. I was unable to locate the crane with the drooping left wing, even though I had multiple conversations with people about it yesterday. As of last night it was in the area and upright.
There was no carcass found, so I thought maybe the bird was still alive. Since I could not find it in its “normal” location I put my drone in the air to look for it. I still have not found the injured bird, but did see this one feeding in shallow water. I liked the composition that included a distinct sandhill crane shadow. This sort of reminds me of a photo of zebras and their shadows in Africa (maybe I saw it in a National Geographic magazine?).
Sandhill Crane by Air - Image 871802
