Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge-June 5

[rtbaum]

It was way too nice of a Sunday to spend indoors watching golf (akin to watching paint dry), so I loaded up the mutt and the wife and headed out. We made a detour to Sand Dune State Forest to check out the rustic campground for 4th of July, after following a washboard road, I pretty much decided that it is not particularly motorhome friendly. Hammock camping on the other hand is a definite possibility. The campground is next to a small lake with a natural sand beach, a rarity in Minnesota. Butterflies were attracted to the minerals of the beach. I situated myself between an attractive young woman in a bikini and my watchful wife




This one I know is a Viceroy


Eastern Tiger Swallowtail?


Should know, but don't

After sitting in the wet sand, I made it my duty to teach the woman's 6 year old son the fine art of coaxing a butterfly to sit on his finger.....I considered it a success.

We next drove the short distance to the Sherburne National Wildlife refuge to see what was happening. I tried a few shots of the blooming lupines, but the noon time sun and high winds were against me. I switched to birds, for the first time I used the D90 with the 300mm with 1.4 teleconverter. It was nice to have the extra reach, but it reaffirmed what a fine body the D750 is when it comes down to autofocus speed and post-processing.


Yellow-Headed Blackbird,
I really have wanted to capture one of these for CiC.....horrendous call though (think rusty hinges)


Sandhill Cranes were out with colts


As I was taking this shot, I head the primal call of another...sounded close! I turned my head just in time to see a crane sail across the hood of the car! At that distance it was easy to appreciate the 80" wingspan.

In the name of matrimonial harmony, I handed the camera over to Judy. These last few shots are hers.


Babies are getting big




All under Bailey's vigilance

[Rita]

Looks like you had a profitable day out. There is a bird sanctuary that is about 1 hour drive from where I live. I do go quit often and it is not unusual to see sandhill cranes there. I have never seen the young ones but I had no idea that they would be brown.

[Ziggy]

Looks like a great place to spend the day Randy.

You captured it well.

[rtbaum]

Looks like you had a profitable day out. There is a bird sanctuary that is about 1 hour drive from where I live. I do go quit often and it is not unusual to see sandhill cranes there. I have never seen the young ones but I had no idea that they would be brown.

Thank you, Jim & Rita

The red color is due iron in the mud, Sandhill Cranes like their mud-baths

[Rita]

Well I'll be. I have not seen that behaviour here. Interesting.

[TonyW]

Rita, I thought he behaved very well under the circumstances even though we missed out on the picture of the bikini.

The birds and butteries are very nice. They are birds we don't see here.

[Rita]

[QUOTE=TonyW;610153]Rita, I thought he behaved very well under the circumstances even though we missed out on the picture of the bikini.

Tony, I think it's because his wife was with him

[IzzieK]

He was looking sideways at the woman with the bikini so Judy did not noticed... Besides, by this time, Judy will be well informed. For all Randy know, she does to CiC.

Any old whoooo...I also like the sandhill crane best of all...not that the rest were not good, just unusual to see that kind of colour in a crane. never seen that colour around here...

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[bnnrcn]

A nice set from a nice day

[rtbaum]

He was looking sideways at the woman with the bikini so Judy did not noticed...

I wish to invoke my 5th Amendment rights.

[NorthernFocus]

Looks like a nice refuge for the occasional visit. Love those sandies. I've never seen a yellow headed bb. Are they that way year round or is that just breeding plumage?

[rtbaum]

Dan- I checked Cornell Lab, this is year-round plumage. Although they are at the eastern fringe of their range in Minnesota, Yellow-Headed Blackbirds occupy the prairie pot-holes of the Americas.