Wilcox Sandhills

dlplumer

Drove 2 hours today to see if I could find the SHCs that are supposed to be there from October to January. I arrived at the area where they are supposed to be and not a single human was there. I walked 2.5 miles into the area and never saw any wildlife, let alone a sandhill crane. Although, I did think that I might have heard them off in the distance. After my walk, I got back into my car and saw a hawk perched in a tree along the side of the road. I stopped and tried to get close, but he took off.


Red-tailed hawk







Finally I saw a flock of cranes but I could not get close.





I took 300 shots and this is the best I could do. But alas, I did capture my first raptor in the wild.

leaforte

Very nice composition on one.

kdog

Nice shots, Dan! Well worth the adventure, I'd say.

Cheers,
-joel

NorthernFocus

What's that they say... "it's the journey, not the destination..."

Just think, if there would have been cranes all over the place you probably wouldn't have noticed the hawk and would still be without your first raptor. The hawk BIF is pretty nice. I like the four overhead cranes too

roentarre

Simply beautiful and artistic:ivar

dbaker1221

that first SHC shot looks like they are catching a thermal to fly elsewhere. love the photo

Maestro

Well, it might not have been what you expected but you did get some good sandie bifs plus your first raptor in the wild.

dlplumer

leaforte wrote:

Very nice composition on one.

Thank you kindly sir.

bhowdy

Dan,
I like the HIF and the 4 Sandies in formation. Well Done

When I have a day like the one you described I chalk it up to ... "Well at least I was outdoors and I got some exercise!"

dlplumer

articblooms wrote:

What's that they say... "it's the journey, not the destination..."

Just think, if there would have been cranes all over the place you probably wouldn't have noticed the hawk and would still be without your first raptor. The hawk BIF is pretty nice. I like the four overhead cranes too

Absolutely. I had a great time, and the weather was fantastic.

leahe

Nice shots! I especially like the last one. I like the diagonal line of the SHC's and the exposure is right on. Whenever I try to go to a local refuge to take photos of the Tundra Swans they are just too far away. I can hear them, but barely see them. Unfortunately, I have the same luck.

dlplumer

roentarre wrote:

Simply beautiful and artistic:ivar

Thanks. Here are a couple more I managed to crank out:

dlplumer

Thanks very much Dave.

Harryb

Congrats on your fiest raptor capture . Looks like you had a nice day with good light.

dlplumer

leahe wrote:

Nice shots! I especially like the last one. I like the diagonal line of the SHC's and the exposure is right on. Whenever I try to go to a local refuge to take photos of the Tundra Swans they are just too far away. I can hear them, but barely see them. Unfortunately, I have the same luck.

Thanks Leah. I like that one too.:D

dlplumer

Harryb wrote:

Congrats on your fiest raptor capture . Looks like you had a nice day with good light.

Thanks Harry. I sure can't complain about the light. This time of year with the sun low in the sky, you can pretty much shoot any time.

grimace

Beautiful looking series Dan!!

dlplumer

grimace wrote:

Beautiful looking series Dan!!

You've been busy going back in time. Thanks Adam for your generous comments.:D