Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

To see the photo larger click anywhere in the photo.

We were headed back to town after spending a lovely afternoon with B who is a local resident of Chico and who very kindly offered to take us out on some back roads to look for Snow Geese and other birds when B who was driving the lead car slowed down then stopped.
Alex wondered what they saw and off to the left behind some tall bushes I saw two big blue birds. I asked, “Are those Herons?”
Alex said, “”Those aren’t Herons, they’re cranes!” I think we all realized it at the same time because no sooner had he finished that sentence I had my camera out, the car door open and so did everyone in B’s car with Alex quickly following me out of the car.

There were two Sandhill Cranes standing here, but I have cropped one out since it had its back to me with his face turned away.
What a thrill! Finally one that was sort of close to the road! You recall me telling you how I missed them last year and really hoped to see them this year so you know I was excited. I didn’t think my photo would turn out. I took three before they got skittish and flew off. Two were awful this is the best one of the 3 shots I took.
They flew to a back corner and there in the corner were several more!

In just a few weeks these wonderful birds will start leaving for more Northern climates. I would like to get out to the marshlands once more before they do.

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm f4@ f5| 1/160 sec| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Nelson Road; Butte County; Oroville, California; Sandisk Ultra II Digital Film; CS5