What graceful beauty queens the Sand Hill Cranes are.
Cindy, the last photo is out of this world fabulous. Congratulations!
Remind me, where is the Salton Sea? xo
Ahhh, thank you! I have several of these, but I just added a sunset panaroma since you liked it. The Salton Sea is in Southern California half way between the ocean and the border with Arizona. It is a two hour drive from The Holler~
What an amazing feeling it must be to float around like that. We don’t have such exotic birds here, but love to watch the gulls enjoying themselves from our front window as they bounce around on the breeze 🙂
When we last visited the Salton Sea, we were in the area where the old homes are. There wasn’t much wildlife at all (and what was there was at risk). What part of the lake were you when you took these magnificent photos?
You were at Salton City which is like some post-apocalyptic ghost town. Eerie place. The lake is huge. These photos were taken at The Sonny Bono Nature Reserve Unit 1. 6 million birds shelter at the lake each year because it is on the Pacific migratory flyway. There are two of these reserves. They are south-east of where you were.
Thanks! I had actually wanted to see the “city” so I could take pictures of the decay. Next time, I’ll allow enough time to get over to the other areas.
Noisy too at certain times of the year. We had many of them in Northern Nevada, and the Sun Valley area in Idaho seems like a popular spot for them too. Beautiful photos.
I LOVE those birds! We see them sometime out at our family homestead in the Texas hill country. They make a lovely sound, too. Thanks for posting them!
That is wonderful news, especially that she followed in your footsteps. The road from my LSW ro LCSW is a long one, but every journey is one step at a time. We do need more of us.
These are so astonishing. I’ve seen them in Wisconsin in the summer, but never in such amazing groups. Wow. I must visit the Salton Sea at the right time of year!
They aren’t here for the courtship only for the winter but they still did jump several times. I am going to visit and practice photographing them more. They are very hard to get close to. I would love to see the courtship too!
Those are very beautiful photos, Cindy! Especially the last two. I am always in awe of golden lighting. It has a magical feel to it. Those should be framed an on your wall!
So graceful! No wonder cranes are often the subject of art (particularly in Asian cultures). I really can’t pick any favorite pictures here as they are beautiful no matter what they’re doing – floating in the sky, standing tall, or wading in the water against a golden backdrop. All of these are gorgeous! <3
Cranes are a symbolic artistic icon in lots of gorgeous Asian art. I suspect it has to do with the graceful and unusual way they move and fly, and their choreographed mating dances. Wonderful creatures!
That is exactly what I did. They don’t like being followed by a human, but at the end of the day, they were tired and I could almost see them thinking, “she’s very annoying, but harmless, and I getting ready to sleep, so just ignore her.”
Laughing~ 🐦
Amazing aren’t they. I believe they mate for life too like swans and storks. We have a pair of herons here in the marina, but think they tend to argue a lot as they are normally apart!
Here’s the amazing thing about this. They mate for life, but they have an annual courtship dance. These intelligent birds never stop the courtship phase of their relationship. How smart is this!🐦
Well I read that first comment about how u added it (and too many to read more of the comments ) never heard of the 8 is enough rule and I actually like it as an overarching guideline – with some leeway like here….
Guess it depends – but I really like that rule so thanks for sharing it
Really delightful portrait of the grace and magnificence of the sandhill crane, Cindy. Your photos are really exquisite. I’ve spent every winter for the last quarter century chasing sandhill cranes up in northern California in the Pacific Flyway, and it is really hard to get this kind of photo! Usually they don’t come in until it’s so dark that the light is bad, or it’s rainy or overcast, or they’re impossibly far away. I’ll say it again: exquisite.
I am so grateful that you know how difficult it is to photograph these guys. It requires so much perseverance, such a slow and continuous approach. They are very wary and always move just out of range of a good shot. I want to keep trying. They are a two hour drive for me, so I can’t be there enough for them to get used to me, but I did notice that after tromping after them for half a day, as the sun started to set, I could get closer. They were either tired, or tired of me, maybe both. Laughing…..
Thank you Athena. It is wonderful you know and share the process. 🐦
Thank you more for such lovely thougths. It’s a bit of a drive to get to them, but The Salton Sea is pure birding heaven, 6 million birds shelter there each year.
I was at their nest and saw an adult fly away. I saw bird carcass in the nest for the chicks but didn’t want to get close enough to scare or disturb the chicks. I would love to see them too, but respect that they don’t want to see me! 🦉
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Sand Hill Cranes captured with the magic of Cindy Knokes and her camera.. Wonderful as always.
Oh you got some wonderful shots! There are two pairs of sandhill cranes at Reifl Bird Sanctuary near Vancouver. We’ve seen them several times, and up quite close.
Alison
Beautiful photos. We lived in Kissimmee, Florida for a while and had both migrating and resident flocks. I loved watching them fly to the lake at dusk. And the noise they make!
Their calls are awesome and so distinctive, and the sound of the wings when a huge flock take to the sky, is just really special. They are so beautiful in flight, it looks like the take offs are in slow motion. You are lucky to have lived among them 🐦🐦
No wonder they were so jittery and nervous. I thought it was me! They are not used to a wolf in the flock, although a canada goose is fine with them. Check out:
Have seen Sandhills nearly all of my life, Cindy. On the farm as I grew up, on lakes and rivers, and even in Florida when I lived there. They seem a solid constant, like a fixed star to me. Thanks for the wonderful reminder. The pics are so clear and crisp it’s like looking out of my window. The pics at sunset are stunning ! Ya done a great job (again)! 🙂
How lucky you are! For me they are a rarity, reminds me of when I travel. In Africa once I was excited about photographing crocodiles on a river. The Africaner women who saw me asked, “Why are you taking photos of those? They are so common.” Not to me. I have only seen them in the wild a handful of times.
I’d love to see these birds, but oddly they have never been reported on Abaco, despite their strong wings. It’s a relatively short flight across from Florida… and they could even pause on Grand Bahama en route. But they have never been reported there either… So it looks like I’ll have to go to them! RH
These a magnificent, Cindy! What an exciting thing to see. I especially like the silhouettes and the shot where they are lined up in the grasses. Such cool birds.
Dearest Cindy, I am sure it is a very busy time for you… I am of course with my darling Michele a little on the sad side, I try not to think about it.. I do miss you all.. especially you and a couple others. well good nite my friend
Sherri
I am therefore I am.. is that the right way you say it.. I love it.. may I use it on my other blogs..
I will put your sculpture up again..
huggs
Or just the short version, “I am.”
Love and thoughts with you and Michele this Christmas season Sherri. Take good care of yourself. There is only one of you! <3
Thanks and the same to you. We are in the midst of Advent now, and slowly moving into Christmas. Loving the carols and the daily ways of marking Advent that others share!
I love birds, Cindy! Your post so often features them which is a true blessing. I think of them as “winged messengers” like earth’s angels. Thank you for the extra bonus of a gorgeous sunset thrown in. 🙂 hugs xo
You are so kind and accepting of my inconsistent visits, Cindy. Just like a great friend, picking up where we left off. . .
My Dad’s name was Robert, which in a rare way of his he chose to name me, the first one after himself. I treasure that the precious page boy haircut of Christopher Robin became Robin (he does resemble a girl with his cloak on 🙂 ) who my Dad read to me as a young toddler in “House at Pooh Corner.” My younger brothers and I finally learned he was a boy when we went to school. 😉
Thank you for the sweet name compliment which brought back this short story to share with you. <3
For a moment there I felt I too was soaring 🙂 Needless to say I loved the photos and your thoughts – “untethered by human hand; proud silhouettes kissed by the golden sunset” Speechless.
Amazing photos Cindy– they look so stately! I can’t believe the variety of life you find everywhere… So hope you are enjoying getting ready for Christmas. I wrapped the last gift today– hooray! Christmas hugs from here to you!
I enjoy the whole Christmas hoopala, the cooking and the decorating, the eggnog and homemade cookies. I just need to get rid of 2 more pounds before I can commence gaining them back again! The best of the Season to you Rhonda~ <3
Ha ha ha Cindy! I have the gain 2, lose 2 in January plan going. We’ll see how it works! Thank you for a year of beauty in all your photos… Christmas blessings.
Please touch base with me before you go so I can direct you to the areas where you will see the masses of birds and also give you some tips on places to stay and dine. Many parts of The Salton Sea are like a post apocalyptic wasteland so you will want to be selective!
Love to see the cranes. I’m very happy to see that they choose to visit the area. Perhaps there’s hope for the life of that lake still. I read a devistating report about this lake being an environmental disaster. With the drought and lack of run off from the area, it’s very much like the area we used to live in. Here in Alberta, it’s the Cooking Lake Moraine. A vast area of wetlands and grassy lakes. All are low and the window of surviving is closing…sigh
The thing that is amazing about The Salton Sea is that it has been this hugely agriculturally polluted body of water for some time but it continues to support millions of thriving migratory birds. SoCal is finally getting a series of rain storms now. This will help the birds and the sea as it was rapidly evaporating. You are a good friend, my friend. Be well~ <3
She’s got her mojo a workin’ but it just won’t work for me! Oh she’s got her mojo a workin’ as good, as good as it can be! Cindy’s got her mojo a workin’ and she’s as could as she can be! 😊😊😊👍❤️😘
I will. Freud said flying dreams of flying were dreams of death. I don’t agree, but do see them as dreams of transcendence. I don’t dream this as much as imagine it! You can imagine it too! <3 <3
Love all the photos, but the one at sunset is just magical. Imagine that printed on something metallic!
Because you said this I added another one, a panaroma of the scene. What a great idea! I would love to see it on a metallic page!~
http://sr.photos3.fotosearch.com/bthumb/CSP/CSP309/k3096719.jpg
The sunset picture is stunning!
Thank you! I added another one! I didn’t want break my eight rule. No more than eight photos, but what the heck~
Beautiful!
Mille grazie!
Oh my!!! Love them all Cindy 😍
Ahhh, you are very kind my friend, Hugs to you~
well expressed
floating 🙂
So pleased you noticed! 🐥
What graceful beauty queens the Sand Hill Cranes are.
Cindy, the last photo is out of this world fabulous. Congratulations!
Remind me, where is the Salton Sea? xo
Ahhh, thank you! I have several of these, but I just added a sunset panaroma since you liked it. The Salton Sea is in Southern California half way between the ocean and the border with Arizona. It is a two hour drive from The Holler~
Cool! Is it fresh or salt water?
I know I saw a post recently about the Caspian Sea, and it is apparently fresh water. Go figure?
What an amazing feeling it must be to float around like that. We don’t have such exotic birds here, but love to watch the gulls enjoying themselves from our front window as they bounce around on the breeze 🙂
Gulls are amazingly intelligent and entertaining birds. I love watching them too!
ヽ(○・▽・○)ノ゙
So beautiful! You really captured their spirit.
Ah, makes me happy I posted! Cheers to you~ 🐥
the top picture, captured my imagination… it is amazing how they appear to float, another great “catch” xxo
I love watching them fly. Their wings are so huge, they do float along! 🐥
Awesome photos of these birds in flight! We have them by our house at a playa lake and they fly over the house! 🙂
How awesome! I have to drive two hours to hang out with them~
I remember them when we were in Florida. They also make strange noises as they walk along. Great photos Cindy. Thanks.
They make a very funny, distinctive noise, especially when you walk up close to them!
So excellent!
Awww, thank you! 🐥
When we last visited the Salton Sea, we were in the area where the old homes are. There wasn’t much wildlife at all (and what was there was at risk). What part of the lake were you when you took these magnificent photos?
You were at Salton City which is like some post-apocalyptic ghost town. Eerie place. The lake is huge. These photos were taken at The Sonny Bono Nature Reserve Unit 1. 6 million birds shelter at the lake each year because it is on the Pacific migratory flyway. There are two of these reserves. They are south-east of where you were.
Thanks! I had actually wanted to see the “city” so I could take pictures of the decay. Next time, I’ll allow enough time to get over to the other areas.
Your photographs are simply beautiful!
You are so kind and it is so appreciated~ 🐥
Noisy too at certain times of the year. We had many of them in Northern Nevada, and the Sun Valley area in Idaho seems like a popular spot for them too. Beautiful photos.
And of course Nebraska! I want to got to Nebraska and see them and they do make a very destinctive noise~ 🐥
You can hear one for miles on a cool morning. Hope you get to go.
I hope so too!
The last one is my favourite. Love it!
Thank you, I just broke my eight is enough rule and added another one. The sunset was pure gold and it was amazing.
Rules are meant to be broken 🙂
Sometimes, I wish I could fly, like that. 🙂
You and me both. Imagine where we would go and what we would see!
I have never seen them before. I love the red facial mask. Great shots -as always.
You gotta come to The Holler and vist the birdies. Of course it is a two hour one-way drive to the sea~ 🐥
Well, the next time if I come to CA we will have a drink and there won’t be time for birds. 🙂
I LOVE those birds! We see them sometime out at our family homestead in the Texas hill country. They make a lovely sound, too. Thanks for posting them!
Their calls are quite distinctive aren’t they! Kinda like a louder version of a wild turkey~ 🐥
They’re quite a big bird. You’d almost wonder how they could fly – except they a large wing span. Lovely photos Cindy.
Leslie
Most birds are fairly light even when they are big. They have hollow bones and as you said very large wing to body ratio~
Beautiful photos, Cindy.
Leslie
Reblogged this on Art, animals, and the earth.
Thank you Sharon from the cranes and I! 🐦
Love the crane family. So amazing.
They are. They are fascinating when they take off in unison!🐦
all I can say Cindy is WOW!
Ahhh, Happy Holidays dear one! Thought you might like to know, my daughter just got her LCSW! Woo Hoo! We need more of us~ <3
That is wonderful news, especially that she followed in your footsteps. The road from my LSW ro LCSW is a long one, but every journey is one step at a time. We do need more of us.
Happy Holidays! love, Linda
Wow beautiful birds!!! Awesome photos sweetie! Hugz Lisa and Bear
Hugs back 2 u’s twose x 2! <3
They do look like they’re floating! I love the golden pond with the silhouettes. Stunning!
That is exactly how they look when they fly. They have tons of aerodynamic lift!
These are so astonishing. I’ve seen them in Wisconsin in the summer, but never in such amazing groups. Wow. I must visit the Salton Sea at the right time of year!
Absolutely gorgeous photos, Cindy. Some day I hope to get that close to cranes, especially when they are courting.
They aren’t here for the courtship only for the winter but they still did jump several times. I am going to visit and practice photographing them more. They are very hard to get close to. I would love to see the courtship too!
Those are very beautiful photos, Cindy! Especially the last two. I am always in awe of golden lighting. It has a magical feel to it. Those should be framed an on your wall!
Oh how lovely of you to say, thank you & cheers too!
They’re beautiful Cindy.
Massive Hugs xxx
Merci beaucoup mon ami!
The sunset silhouettes are magnificent!
Honored. Thank you!
How gorgeous! Here’s hoping you’ll read my blog too sometime. Much love.
I do read your blog and enjoy it very much! Cheers to you & thank you too~
Thank you so very much. Cheers. x
Simply magnificent birds! Stunning photos, as always, my friend!!
Hugs to you Dorinda and Happy Thursday my friend~ 🐦
❤️
Love these birds! Shame we don’t have any up our way!
Thank you and I wish I had your eagles! 🐦
Great capture!
Merci beaucoup~
So graceful! No wonder cranes are often the subject of art (particularly in Asian cultures). I really can’t pick any favorite pictures here as they are beautiful no matter what they’re doing – floating in the sky, standing tall, or wading in the water against a golden backdrop. All of these are gorgeous! <3
Cranes are a symbolic artistic icon in lots of gorgeous Asian art. I suspect it has to do with the graceful and unusual way they move and fly, and their choreographed mating dances. Wonderful creatures!
Lovely
Mille grazie~ 🐦
Elegance personified! I love how you followed them throughout the day as if to capture a life cycle! Fantastic!
That is exactly what I did. They don’t like being followed by a human, but at the end of the day, they were tired and I could almost see them thinking, “she’s very annoying, but harmless, and I getting ready to sleep, so just ignore her.”
Laughing~ 🐦
🤗🤗🤗
Such beauties. 🙂
Yes they are! Five and one half feet tall and a 6.5 foot wing span. Big beauties!!
Just wonderful to see them in their environment
They are amazing to observe and grace personified~
That first shot is outstanding
Aww, every once in awhile you stop by and grace me with such kindness. It means a lot to me. Thank you & be well Duncan~
Credit where it’s due.
Amazing aren’t they. I believe they mate for life too like swans and storks. We have a pair of herons here in the marina, but think they tend to argue a lot as they are normally apart!
Here’s the amazing thing about this. They mate for life, but they have an annual courtship dance. These intelligent birds never stop the courtship phase of their relationship. How smart is this!🐦
Brilliant! I didn’t know that bit.
Fantastische Bilder Cindy! Chapeau…
Vielen danke mein lieber Freund Ernst und Frohe Advent~ 🐦
The pano u added is my fav and I could see it mounted as well!
Awesome post Cindy
Xxoo
I broke my 8 is enough rule and added it as an after thought, so your comment makes me happy I did. Thank you~ 🐦
Well I read that first comment about how u added it (and too many to read more of the comments ) never heard of the 8 is enough rule and I actually like it as an overarching guideline – with some leeway like here….
Guess it depends – but I really like that rule so thanks for sharing it
These are awesome shots, Cindy. 🙂
You are an awesome friend~ 🐦
Magnificent captures, Cindy! I think some of the birding magazine would love to publish your photos. 🙂 🙂
Awww, friends like you make life happy! <3 🐦
Really delightful portrait of the grace and magnificence of the sandhill crane, Cindy. Your photos are really exquisite. I’ve spent every winter for the last quarter century chasing sandhill cranes up in northern California in the Pacific Flyway, and it is really hard to get this kind of photo! Usually they don’t come in until it’s so dark that the light is bad, or it’s rainy or overcast, or they’re impossibly far away. I’ll say it again: exquisite.
I am so grateful that you know how difficult it is to photograph these guys. It requires so much perseverance, such a slow and continuous approach. They are very wary and always move just out of range of a good shot. I want to keep trying. They are a two hour drive for me, so I can’t be there enough for them to get used to me, but I did notice that after tromping after them for half a day, as the sun started to set, I could get closer. They were either tired, or tired of me, maybe both. Laughing…..
Thank you Athena. It is wonderful you know and share the process. 🐦
Cindy you take such lovely pictures! (I see I’m not the only one to think so!) These cheered me up on a gloomy day. Such beauty ! wonderful birds. Xxx
Your comment cheered me up on a Thursday morning. Thank you & cheers too~ 🐦
Your photos are always amazing, but I especially liked the ones of the cranes… So nice to see this time of year!
Ahhh, so kind and makes me so happy I posted! Have a wonderful day Ann~ 🐦
Awe-inspiring! ◟( ˊ̱˂˃ˋ̱ )◞♡⃛
The 🐦🐦 and I thank you!
(⑅⚈᷀᷁⌔⚈᷀᷁⑅)
♥~(‘▽^人)
Cindy, I didn’t realize these beautiful creatures wintered in your neck of the woods! Truly tremendous shots here — thank you!
Thank you more for such lovely thougths. It’s a bit of a drive to get to them, but The Salton Sea is pure birding heaven, 6 million birds shelter there each year.
Six million?? Wow, who knew?:!!
The variety is incredible. They have Blue Footed Boobies and Burrowing Owls!
How I’d love seeing those Owls!!
I was at their nest and saw an adult fly away. I saw bird carcass in the nest for the chicks but didn’t want to get close enough to scare or disturb the chicks. I would love to see them too, but respect that they don’t want to see me! 🦉
Okay, now where did you find that darling little owl at the end of your comment???
He’s an 🦉 Japanese emoji! He’s adorable isn’t he! Thanks for noticing~ 🦉🦉
Yeah, he’s just darling! Thanks for the info, and have a lovely weekend!
<3
Wow Cindy, they are really beautiful 🙂
Thanks Irene, they are epic birds!🐦
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
Beautiful photographs of regal, watchful cranes…thank you, Cindy!
😎
Thank you for your kindness and your support of our previously endangered Sandhill Cranes!🐦
Those fliers are very skilled, aren’t they? Great photos, Cindy! 🙂
They float fly, like kites with long legs for pushing off the ground!
What a wonderful way to describe them, Cindy! To infinity and beyond 😉
They make their home here in the Valley grasslands and marshes. A site to behold! Great photos – especially at sunset.
Oh I would love to see them! 🐦
Cindy, I could jump right into your photographs – they are that clear and captivating. I actually felt as if I were part of the flock 💖
I love it! You are so kind and so appreciated. Thank you for the light you shine into my life daily and be well my dear friend~ <3 🐦
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bb/84/0c/bb840ce9e33a03f66d6f3c17b7d67078.jpg
Aaaaaw, you’re so sweet, dear Cindy – and so appreciated ♥
Stunningly beautiful photos, Cindy, of these magnificent birds. They really are amazing to watch!
They are incredible to watch and they are 5 feet tall with 61/2 foot wing spans! Big birdies! 🐦
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Sand Hill Cranes captured with the magic of Cindy Knokes and her camera.. Wonderful as always.
That is what you are Sally. Wonderful. Always!
http://scrapbookingandpapercrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Heart-Thank-You-Card2.jpg
Wow. Such grace and simplicity in motion. Thank you for sharing, Cindy. Heartstopping photography again. <3 <3 <3
Aww, thank you! They are grace & beauty personified. I can see why they are so frequently depicted in art.
So beautiful, Cindy. You are such a good photographer.
You are so nice & so appreciated for saying so! Cheers to you & thank you too~🐦
Oh you got some wonderful shots! There are two pairs of sandhill cranes at Reifl Bird Sanctuary near Vancouver. We’ve seen them several times, and up quite close.
Alison
How awesome! Are I want to visit. Let me know when you will be in town!
March and April, then Oct Nov Dec
November would work. We have to take Rebecca Budd with us, aka clanmother. She lives in Vancouver. This would be a blast!
Okay! Let’s keep in touch about this. it would be fabulous to meet up.
Yes!
wow how good photographer are you! So beautiful as always
kisses
Ahh, kind soul are you! Thank you~ 🐦
very welcome
They are gorgeous!
They are pretty amazing, and a very old species~
So amazing. Gave me chills. <3
Ah, hugs to you my dear friend~ 🐦
Ditto. 😀
Beautiful photos. We lived in Kissimmee, Florida for a while and had both migrating and resident flocks. I loved watching them fly to the lake at dusk. And the noise they make!
Their calls are awesome and so distinctive, and the sound of the wings when a huge flock take to the sky, is just really special. They are so beautiful in flight, it looks like the take offs are in slow motion. You are lucky to have lived among them 🐦🐦
Reblogged this on penpowersong.
Salamat sa iyong kagandahang-loob! 🐦
Wolfie is flying with them! It’s very cool and refreshing up there!! 😉
No wonder they were so jittery and nervous. I thought it was me! They are not used to a wolf in the flock, although a canada goose is fine with them. Check out:
how fun..heh love it
<3
Have seen Sandhills nearly all of my life, Cindy. On the farm as I grew up, on lakes and rivers, and even in Florida when I lived there. They seem a solid constant, like a fixed star to me. Thanks for the wonderful reminder. The pics are so clear and crisp it’s like looking out of my window. The pics at sunset are stunning ! Ya done a great job (again)! 🙂
How lucky you are! For me they are a rarity, reminds me of when I travel. In Africa once I was excited about photographing crocodiles on a river. The Africaner women who saw me asked, “Why are you taking photos of those? They are so common.” Not to me. I have only seen them in the wild a handful of times.
I’d love to see these birds, but oddly they have never been reported on Abaco, despite their strong wings. It’s a relatively short flight across from Florida… and they could even pause on Grand Bahama en route. But they have never been reported there either… So it looks like I’ll have to go to them! RH
Sounds like a good excuse to travel!:) I just heard there are occasional flamingos at The Salton Sea. This I gotta see!
Fantastic 🙂
You are a kind friend!
Thanks 🙂
These a magnificent, Cindy! What an exciting thing to see. I especially like the silhouettes and the shot where they are lined up in the grasses. Such cool birds.
They are regal giants aren’t they! So pleased you enjoyed them & Happy Sunday~
Dearest Cindy, I am sure it is a very busy time for you… I am of course with my darling Michele a little on the sad side, I try not to think about it.. I do miss you all.. especially you and a couple others. well good nite my friend
Sherri
I am therefore I am.. is that the right way you say it.. I love it.. may I use it on my other blogs..
I will put your sculpture up again..
huggs
Or just the short version, “I am.”
Love and thoughts with you and Michele this Christmas season Sherri. Take good care of yourself. There is only one of you! <3
beautiful…truly such beauty…
Your kindness makes me happy~
☺️😁 😁
Impresionantes fotos del vuelo de las grullas!!!!
Abrazos amiga mia! <3
Stunning shots! Thank you, Cindy!
Honored and thank you Sofia!
As per usual your photos are amazing Cindy > As per usual I seem to like the last but one but am not sure why 🙂 Fantastic 🙂
I often put my favorite last so I appreciate you liking it Andy, but mostly I just appreciate you my friend~
Thanks Cindy > Its lovely to hear that. Wishing you a brilliant week > Your mate in China 🙂
Be well! 🐦
Wow. Beautiful pictures, Cindy.
The least I can do for a beautiful friend like you Cynthia. Happy Holidays~
Thanks and the same to you. We are in the midst of Advent now, and slowly moving into Christmas. Loving the carols and the daily ways of marking Advent that others share!
Sounds like the Christmas season! Lovely! 🎄
Olá Cindy! Mais uma vez surpresa com o seu trabalho. Lindo demais! Um abraço!
Voce e uma pessoa adoravel! Obrigada meu amigo e estar bem~ <3
I love birds, Cindy! Your post so often features them which is a true blessing. I think of them as “winged messengers” like earth’s angels. Thank you for the extra bonus of a gorgeous sunset thrown in. 🙂 hugs xo
My favorite photo was the silhouettes against the golden sunset, Cindy.
Hope you have a precious holiday season with Joy and Peace. 🙂
Happiest Holidays to you and your family Robin and you are most aptly named my friend~ 🐦
You are so kind and accepting of my inconsistent visits, Cindy. Just like a great friend, picking up where we left off. . .
My Dad’s name was Robert, which in a rare way of his he chose to name me, the first one after himself. I treasure that the precious page boy haircut of Christopher Robin became Robin (he does resemble a girl with his cloak on 🙂 ) who my Dad read to me as a young toddler in “House at Pooh Corner.” My younger brothers and I finally learned he was a boy when we went to school. 😉
Thank you for the sweet name compliment which brought back this short story to share with you. <3
<3 🦆
For a moment there I felt I too was soaring 🙂 Needless to say I loved the photos and your thoughts – “untethered by human hand; proud silhouettes kissed by the golden sunset” Speechless.
Ahh, your kindness touched my heart. Thank you & cheers too~ <3
🙂
Yes, they are magnificent birds. Your magnificent photos do them justice.
Honored & humbled by your thoughtfulness~ 🦆
Amazing photos Cindy– they look so stately! I can’t believe the variety of life you find everywhere… So hope you are enjoying getting ready for Christmas. I wrapped the last gift today– hooray! Christmas hugs from here to you!
I enjoy the whole Christmas hoopala, the cooking and the decorating, the eggnog and homemade cookies. I just need to get rid of 2 more pounds before I can commence gaining them back again! The best of the Season to you Rhonda~ <3
Ha ha ha Cindy! I have the gain 2, lose 2 in January plan going. We’ll see how it works! Thank you for a year of beauty in all your photos… Christmas blessings.
Visa versa 2UX2! <3 <3
Red crown protected area In eastern China.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-crowned_crane
Beautiful shots, Cindy. Lovely, graceful birds. I have this spot on my list when we go on our road trip to CA.
Please touch base with me before you go so I can direct you to the areas where you will see the masses of birds and also give you some tips on places to stay and dine. Many parts of The Salton Sea are like a post apocalyptic wasteland so you will want to be selective!
Yes, Cindy. I will and many thanks for your offer. I want to see the “wasteland” but I don’t want to eat there!
The ghost town is fascinating and there are some really great restaurants in nearby Borrego Springs!
Love to see the cranes. I’m very happy to see that they choose to visit the area. Perhaps there’s hope for the life of that lake still. I read a devistating report about this lake being an environmental disaster. With the drought and lack of run off from the area, it’s very much like the area we used to live in. Here in Alberta, it’s the Cooking Lake Moraine. A vast area of wetlands and grassy lakes. All are low and the window of surviving is closing…sigh
The thing that is amazing about The Salton Sea is that it has been this hugely agriculturally polluted body of water for some time but it continues to support millions of thriving migratory birds. SoCal is finally getting a series of rain storms now. This will help the birds and the sea as it was rapidly evaporating. You are a good friend, my friend. Be well~ <3
Amazing
Merci beaucoup! 📷📷
Nature is the true artist. Grace and beauty in the sky.
You are a 🕯 in my life~ 👼🕯🌟
Eye opening photographs, Cindy! I love them all so much!
So kind of you and so very appreciated! Thank you & cheers too~
Exquisite as always, Cindy 💖
You are such a good friend Tina, hugs to you~ 🐦
She’s got her mojo a workin’ but it just won’t work for me! Oh she’s got her mojo a workin’ as good, as good as it can be! Cindy’s got her mojo a workin’ and she’s as could as she can be! 😊😊😊👍❤️😘
Glad to have it and never want to lose it! Laughing…….
Oh for sure! I don’t want
You to ever lose it either‼️❌⭕️
<3
Do you ever wish you had wings?
Yes!!!
Me too. Before I got PTSD, I used to dream of flying – often. They were marvelous dreams. I miss them!
I am so sorry. Hugs. <3
No worries. It’s a fact of life now. Have some flying dreams for me, okay?? (smile)
I will. Freud said flying dreams of flying were dreams of death. I don’t agree, but do see them as dreams of transcendence. I don’t dream this as much as imagine it! You can imagine it too! <3 <3
Freud knew so much, and so little.
So true~