Sandhill Cranes -Guest Blog

Photos and text just in from Marlene in Florida.

the Sandhill Cranes –Antigone canadensis

They have a nest behind our site.                    The female and male take turns sitting on the nest.  They walk around the campground checking everyone out.  The other day I missed a great photo when an alligator swam over to the nest.  The male Sandhill poked the alligator with his beak and the alligator swam off.  Notice the red eyes they have.  The male is a few inches taller then the female but hard tell when they are not together.  

Sand Hill Cranes like to look at themselves in our bumper.

 

Owl in Massachusetts Guest Blog

During the Pandemic, I’ve been fortunate to receive photos from family and friends who live in different locations. They contribute to the blog and add interest. This is a collaborative effort by neighbors in Massachusetts.

I received a photo of an owl sitting on a snow covered wall from my longtime friend Linda Dempster.

Photo by Linda Dempster

Later Linda sent me another photo of the owl who’d flown up in a tree. She’d received it from her neighbor. I asked her to ask the neighbor if they’d consent to the owl in the tree photo being posted on the blog. So thank you Linda and neighbor Anne Laibe Bertalino for the interesting owl photos and being the guest bloggers today.

Perfectly framed by the branches.
Photo by Anne Laibe Bertalino.
Look at those owl eyes! Wonderful capture, Anne.

In 2012 my most popular post was from guest blogger Shuey in Florida with his barred owl photo.

Red Shouldered Hawk Niceville FL Guest Blog

This is a regular visitor to the local McDonalds.  It was on the ground eating the remains of the meat in a discarded sandwich in the parking lot with several large, black crows around, cawing angrily, but . . . not getting too close.   The crows would hop closer and the hawk would turn it’s head to look at them and they’d quickly back up.  It was fascinating to watch.  Once finished with the meat in the sandwich it flew to the top of this post where I finally thought to snap a pic or two.  As best as I can tell on-line, it’s a Red Shouldered Hawk.   -Shuey

Photographed by Shuey in Niceville FL

 

Shuey’s most viewed  Guest Post was the regal Barred Owl in 2012  the Blue Jerk  was another   Thanks for the wonderful contributions. 

https://rutheh.com/2012/03/12/barred-owl-niceville-florida-guest-post/