It was that stretch of road on Hwy 47 between Black Creek and Langstad when it all happened... That is where the waters from the springtime rains overflowed the banks of Black Creek and White Lake, turning the surrounding basins into a marshy field. Abundant wildlife thrives there in the mid evening hours as the sun starts to drift toward the horizon. Armed with a camera while eyes were wide open, gazing over the farm fields.
"Crane!" Tender Heart called out as she slammed on the brakes of the car. Tires spit gravel as she wheeled the white Chevy around for a better view...
Sure enough, a pair of Sandhill Cranes were grazing on cultivated corn in a farm field. Standing at about 38 inches tall and with the wingspan of almost seven feet, the Sandhill Crane is one of the largest birds in North America. After seeing so many crane in these parts, it is hard to believe that this elegant bird was once endangered in the 1940's. Because of human intervention, the crane has thrived and flourished... It still remains endangered in several states.
While snapping away at the crane, Tender Heart taps me on the shoulder, "Sweetheart, I just saw something big fly into that tree over there". I saw it, but I wasn't sure what is was... "Probably a raven or a hawk, but let's take a better look", I whispered. We crept forward. I could hear the sound of crunching gravel under the wheels of the car. The humongous bird flew from the oak tree with a black bird chasing it. It was a Bald Eagle! I clearly saw the white head and tail as it turned around flew towards us, its seven and a half foot wingspan kissing the sky. The raptor then swooped down to about 200 feet away from us, snatching a Red-winged Blackbird with its massive talons. Somehow, the black bird managed to get dropped and fell to the ground as the magnificent bird of prey flew to its roost. This is where I took this snapshot...
Excited and satisfied with the series of photos (even though the traffic was blasting past us), we headed back on the road. We had a couple of more hours of travel ahead of us. We didn't even get more than a couple of miles before I called out,"Turkey!" On my side of road there were a dozen or so Eastern Wild Turkey in an unplowed farm field. Some of these gobblers were engaged in a courtship display trying to impress the hens. With their puffed up feathers, tails fanned out and wings dragging, they were so engaged in what they were doing that they barely even noticed us.
Just behind the turkeys, we noticed a White Tailed Deer foraging in the field. It was that time of the year that we couldn't tell if it was a buck or doe, for its antlers hasn't grown in yet. Mammals by nature, are more skittish than birds. To get a close up shot of our beautiful state animal was nearly impossible, even with my Sony DSC-H2 camera. To complicate matters, the animal was trotting off to the woods intending to get out of sight. After a short chase, I managed to get a shot of it glancing at us, just before it stepped out of sight....
We didn't get to our destination till WAY after nightfall, by then we have seen more turkey and deer along the way. It was worth it....
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10 comments:
how cool for you guys, glad you had a great time, and welcome back!
I've got to tell you... 1. nice pictures...2. great story, I like the way you describe it...Thanks Drew
Drew, Tender, Isn't It amazing the wonderful wildlife you see when you get OUT of the city? Lot's of Sandhill Cranes are around here, and of course Turkey's and Deer, but It Is a RARE day to be lucky enough to see a HUGE Eagle like you saw. It's really neat to see how much you enjoyed your weekend holiday.
Toad- Drew was taking pictures of the cranes and I seen something fly into the tree but I didn't know what it was. Then it flew again and Drew said it was an Eagle and I said what. So I drove really slow so we could get the picture. It was awesome like going for the hunt of it. I have seen some in the reservation up north and when they would swoop down towards my car I told my kids it was my dad watching over us. Then I went on the chase to get the pictures of the deer.
Tender, It's weird, but I hit an Elk on the highway just outside Hayward about 5 years ago. I tried everything I could to avoid her, but hit her In the Butt. She ran off into the woods, so I hope she didn't die, but the REALLY odd part, after I hit her, an Eagle flew down In front of the car, and was at car level for probably 5 seconds until I stopped at the side of the road. I don't know what It meant, but It was certainly odd. BTW, It cost the Insurance Co. $2,000.00 to fix the light, and fender etc. of the car.
I need to get out more. The only animals I see around here ae the two-legged kind.
Nice pics and story. I've never seen a bald eagle in the wild.
That's some neat pictures!
Be sure to keep your eyes open for the Delavan Devil. My buddy saw him cross the road one night on his way to Whitewater - 1980's time frame. Slightly different from A Sasquatch, the Delavan Devil has a wolf-man appearance - similar to that seen at Holy Hill.
http://www.beastofbrayroad.com/sightingslog2.html
http://www.haveyouseenthiscreature.com/
Keep your eyes open, and your camera ready for one of these:
"Reports of apparent pterosaurs flying around are not restricted to southwest Texas. In Mexico, in areas bordering this part of Texas, eyewitnesses have reported large frightening flying creatures that may be related to the Marfa Lights."
http://www.laattorneyvideo.com/nonlegal/pterosaurs/
TSE, the werewolf was probably me.
Believe me it probably is they way he was up north!
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