Sandhill Crane

bristlecone · February 5, 2014

On a trip to Tucson last week, we discovered Whitewater Draw, a winter roosting location for thousands of Sandhill crane -- a two hour drive southeast of Tucson in the Sulphur Springs Valley. Fantastic experience, we spent the whole day there. All these shots were taken with the Canon 100-400 f4L. I was on and off the tripod (mostly off). ISO 800, shutter mostly @ 1000 - 2000, f8. A new lens for me and I'm still adjusting to the in's & out of this lens. C&C always welcome.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Stumblebum · February 5, 2014

Great series! What an amazing place! #3 and #4 are great! Light is perfect and they are in flight! Last one is beautiful as well!

Earache · February 5, 2014

Wow Leonard!!!
The light is wonderful - #3 and especially #4 are killer!!!

Oso · February 5, 2014

Numbers 3 and especially 4 are the bomb. I love the position of the different cranes in #4. Very well composed.

bristlecone · February 5, 2014

Stumblebum wrote: »

Great series! What an amazing place! #3 and #4 are great! Light is perfect and they are in flight! Last one is beautiful as well!

Thanks for the kind words. This was an amazing place. I understand from birder folk that were there, that this is the final couple of weeks before they all leave and head north. They said that there were approx 11k on site then, two weeks prior there were 20k! I was lucky to have a few fly across our path so close as the sun was low.