Test for you "birders"

[Dennis S]

I am visiting in Minnesota, and walked down to the Mississippi with my camera. I have a telephoto lens, but it isn't very powerful.

Across the river-where I couldn't go for a closer shot, and nearly beyond the range of my little zoom lens-I saw this amazing community of some kind of crane. These are the best I could do given the limitations of weather (not enough sunlight) and equipment. I am confident some of you will be able to tell me what I am looking at. I am giving a lot of consideration to a telephoto lens. I hate to see the chance for a good picture slip away because I don't have the lens to bring it in.

 

[Dennis S]

Another shot.

Another shot.

More cranes.

 

[Superbob]

Great Blue Herons, perhaps?

 

[Mary]

Great Blue Herons, perhaps?

That's what it looks like to me too.

 

[Bina]

Great Blue Herons....we have a pair that breed here in a very old willow tree on the river bank.
Excellent photos!

 

[Guest]

Dennis, I don't know about the species but there is a wildlife refuge, The Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, that is home to thousands of birds every year. October is the most active time period, as they migrate to this park.

http://www.friendsofthebosque.org/

We drove and walked through the park, saw turkeys, beaver, cranes, ducks, geese, deer, and lots of turtles.

If you have never gone there, it's worth the trip.

 

[Kathleen]

Hey Dennis great to hear you are around visiting. Do you take a stroll through Abbott and look for any familiar faces? How long will you be in the neighborhood.
Kathleen