Sand Hill Cranes and Other Critters at Whitewater Draw

My friend Ginger came with me and we spend 3 nights camping at Whitewater Draw to watch the Sand Hill Cranes and other birds that winter there.

Thistle and I took his walks down the driveway and back, so he would not disturb the birds or birders by the ponds. 

Camping is free for 3 days. 

We arrived shortly before the cranes flew in. Birders and photographers were lined up with their binoculars and cameras.

When they start to arrive they look like a dark cloud coming from the horizon. And you begin to hear them calling.

The ducks in this pond heard them coming too, and relocated farther away.

They come from their feeding grounds...surrounding corn fields, etc. They come by the thousands!

Want to watch them land? Click on the video.

The ones on the ground continue to call others in.

More come in at sunset from the southwest. 

They make for pretty pictures.

The signs said they stand in the water all night to protect themselves from predators. 

I saw coyotes early in the morning.

Sunset is when the owls come out to hunt too.

A pair of Great-Horned Owls roost during the day and will nest in this pole barn.

She's watching me...

Shhh!

It was fun to watch the crane's behavior. This one dips its bill in for a drink.

Then they lift their head high up to swallow.

There were lots of ducks. This is a Cinnamon Teal.

Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and Widgeon.

Only one Avocet...either a juvenile or an adult in winter plumage.

Hawks..

Meadowlark

Says Phoebe. I also saw a Black Phoebe.

Same Avocet

Maybe a Goshawk?

A flock of Killdeer flew in one morning.

Killdeer

This Pied-billed Grebe just caught a frog. It was fun to watch him try to swallow it.

Goodbye frog! 

Pyrrhuloxia

American Kestrel

Every morning just at sunrise and for about an hour, the cranes get really noisy and then lift off to go to their feeding grounds.