Sandhills at The Salton Sea~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life

With all their birdie buddies!

The heavy rains have filled the seas making happy and healthy birdies (click to enlarge).

The Sandhill Cranes have flown here en masse,

to take advantage of the bounty.

This is the first time they have allowed me close enough to get decent photos.

Sandhills are big birdies,

standing up to 4 1/2′ tall when fully extended,

They winter in the Salton Sea,

and head north soon,

to breed.

I have seen them doing their mating dances,

in the far Arctic.

Sorry to be out of touch. We are traveling, and wifi is unreliable.

Cheers to you for the wintering Sandhill Cranes~

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236 thoughts on “Sandhills at The Salton Sea~”

  2. Deborah

    The sandhills fly through SW Colorado on their way north via the Platte River in Nebraska. The Salton Sea looks really full.

    O/T: Did you receive the email I sent?

    Reply
      1. Deborah

        When they stop over in SW Colorado, their numbers are huge. The same when they lay over on the Platte. I sent you a DM thru Instagram. Hopefully you’ll receive it.

        Reply

    1. Thank you Lynette. I have seen them near The Arctic Circle too, with the polar bears! Small world. ･:*:･｡(〃･ω･)ﾉ Happy Valentine’s Dayヽ(･ω･〃)｡･:*:･ﾟ

      Reply

  15. I enjoyed your closeups of these amazing creatures. I attended the sandhill crane festival nearby in East Tennessee recently at the 6,000 acre Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge where the Hiwassee and Tennessee rivers meet.

    Reply

  16. Wonderful shots of these beautiful birds. They are certainly huge. And it’s good to know their nesting grounds are abundant after the rains.

    Everywhere looks lush and fresh.

    Happy safe travels Cindy. ❤️ xx

    Reply

    1. Thanks much Sue. The seas are looking so beautiful and the birds, abundant and happy. Wonderful to see ﾟ･:*:･｡(〃･ω･)ﾉ Happy Valentine’s Dayヽ(･ω･〃)｡･:*:･ﾟ

      Reply

  17. Delightful photo’s Cindy, and I think they let you in close because you danced their dance, gave of natures love and energy so you weren’t a threat. Thank you for sharing kind lady, and keep enjoying your travels. I am enjoying them for what you always bring back and share 🤣❤️🙏

    Reply

    3. Hopefully you’re right Mark. Also, since they come here once a year, they may have noticed my years long attempt to get closer to them and taken pity on me. Birds remember დ

      Reply

  34. They are amazing birds, Cindy 🙂 Such wonderful captures. A friend just told me yesterday about one who lost her/his mate and just roams around honking all day…so sad.
    Happy Valentine’s Day!! Hope your travels are fun and filled with lots of love and light <3

    Reply

    1. That is incredibly sad. Birds that mate for life are so endearing and so sad when they lose a mate. ﾟ･:*:･｡(〃･ω･)ﾉ Happy Valentine’s Dayヽ(･ω･〃)｡･:*:･ﾟ

      Reply

    1. Thank you Jane . There are scores of black ibis and even oyster catchers here now. 1000’s of snow geese flew directly over my head and I saw the burrowing owls. Perfection! ﾟ･:*:･｡(〃･ω･)ﾉ Happy Valentine’s Dayヽ(･ω･〃)｡･:*:･ﾟ

      Reply

  43. “Big birdies” is right — wow! I’ll bet the sound they make when they flap those immense wings must be something to hear. Glad they let you get close, Cindy. Enjoy your travels and be safe!

    Reply

    1. Yes they are incredible in flight. Today I had thousands of snow geese take off and fly close, directly over my head. It was such a thrill! ﾟ･:*:･｡(〃･ω･)ﾉ Happy Valentine’s Dayヽ(･ω･〃)｡･:*:･ﾟ

      Reply

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