I went birding yesterday, because I always do on October 7 - it's my birthday!!!!
I left my house at 5:30 a.m. The sun came up a bit later
I was on my way to Muskiki Lake - at least a five-hour drive - it's way up in central Sask, west of Humboldt, near the junction of Hwys #5 and #2
It was sort of appropriate that I should run into this group of people - Saskatoon Nature Society, Golden-Eagle Division - since yesterday I officially became an Old(er) Person!
They offered to share their lunches
We were all at this location because
There have been 35 Whooping Cranes counted at Muskiki Lake this year - the largest migrating flock known to date. The birds have been there for about two weeks, grazing in the wheat fields and shallow salty lakes. I personally counted 32.
Three family groups of two adults and a juvenile were way hell and gone at a slough. Good viewing through a scope. However, I am no better at digiscoping than normal photography.
And some were in a relatively near-by field. Still far away.
Here are a couple photos I lifted from the website International Crane Foundation. to give a better idea of what these magnificent and highly-endangered beauties look like in case you haven't seen them before and/or up closer
and
I left my house at 5:30 a.m. The sun came up a bit later
I was on my way to Muskiki Lake - at least a five-hour drive - it's way up in central Sask, west of Humboldt, near the junction of Hwys #5 and #2
It was sort of appropriate that I should run into this group of people - Saskatoon Nature Society, Golden-Eagle Division - since yesterday I officially became an Old(er) Person!
They offered to share their lunches
We were all at this location because
There have been 35 Whooping Cranes counted at Muskiki Lake this year - the largest migrating flock known to date. The birds have been there for about two weeks, grazing in the wheat fields and shallow salty lakes. I personally counted 32.
Three family groups of two adults and a juvenile were way hell and gone at a slough. Good viewing through a scope. However, I am no better at digiscoping than normal photography.
And some were in a relatively near-by field. Still far away.
Here are a couple photos I lifted from the website International Crane Foundation. to give a better idea of what these magnificent and highly-endangered beauties look like in case you haven't seen them before and/or up closer
and
For some info on identification, range map, audio recording of the whoop, etc, go to my favourite identification source: All About Birds
Ontario birder Bruce DiLabio was out here a week or so ago. He has some photos of these same birds on his blog.
Well done K. Not too many people have seen 32 at once.
ReplyDeleteVery lucky indeed.
ReplyDeletelove the 5:30 a.m. photo
ReplyDeleteThank You, Holly
ReplyDelete