Happy Easter!

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Sandhill Cranes

How nice it was to hear the chatter of Sandhill Crane flocks!

A few photos from today


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All of todays photos can be found here.

I Have Been Remiss

in not posting the link to the CraneCam at Rowe Sanctuary. The CraneCam is on the National Geographic site. There is also a nice article about Sandhill Cranes on the same page.

In other news. Among my mother's things were a two month old lift recliner. It and a few other things came to my house today. I am absolutely loving the recliner. With my bad hips and knees, it is wonderful to be "uplifted"! However, to make room for it, the "office" had to be redone. Old computer desk out, new smaller one in. Sounds simple, trust me it hasn't been. 'Nuf said on that.

Wednesday, I'm heading out for Kearney and crane watching, and whatever all else I can see. Will have to come back Friday. It's not the week down there that I had originally planned, but better than nothing!

Still Living Vicariously

through Birdchick's blog. She has two more posts on her time in Nebraska here and here.

I have seen no further posts on the Common Crane on the Nebraska hotline.

Sandhill Cranes

Yesterday, the weather folks predicted the temps would be in the mid 60's. According to Wunderground, the high was 71. They are predicting low 60's for today's high.

The marvelous weather has led to my responsible side having an argument with my irresponsible side. The irresponsible side says take the day off and head west and see some cranes, ducks and geese. My responsible side says stay here and finish packing up Mother's apartment. Sadly, for the sake of birding, the responsible side has won.

So one must live vicariously through others. Birdchick has an awesome post up about something they witnessed while crane watching. Click on over and check it out. You'll be glad you did!

Lotsa Ducks and Geese

Went to Pawnee and Branched Oak Lakes. Both lakes are still partially frozen. Plenty of activity at both lakes, however.

Lots of Canada Geese at both lakes. Some Greater White-fronted and probably Cackling Geeese also. A good number of Snow Geese at Branched Oak. Lots and lots of ducks, including Mallards (of course), Northern Pintails, Greater Scaups, Redheads, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Ring-necked Ducks, and a few Wood Ducks.

The photos are from Pawnee

Ring-necked Duck

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Redheads and Greater Scaups

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Canada Goose scoping out his territory?

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According to the Nebraska Hotline, the Common Crane was seen again today.

Common Crane Update

Birdchick has posted a picture of the Common Crane.

The only further information about the Common Crane is that one poster on the Nebraska Hotline searched for a couple of hours on Saturday and did not see it.

Last nite I contemplated heading down there to see if I could see it. While I am going to give myself the day off today, I've decided not to wrack up 300 miles chasing the crane. Call me an undedicated birder, or whatever, but I'm just not much into hopping into the car and going on a wild goose chase...or in this case crane chase....

With that...I'm going to take the day off I've granted myself and head out to one or two of the local lakes

Common Crane In Nebraska

Thursday, Birdchick who led a group of Minnesotans on a Sandhill Crane tour posted on her blog that they had seen a Common Crane.

The following was posted on the Nebraska Hotline this evening.

This morning we followed directions from Sharon Stiteler and Amber
Burnett who are part of the Minnesota group of 10 who saw the common
crane on Thursday, we drove to the spot after taking in the sunrise
at the Gibbon Bridge viewing platform. As we scanned the flock Paul
Johnsgard invited us to look at the pale whitish crane about twenty
feet in from the west side of the flock. Sure enough I could see the
black marking with my naked eye! It helped that all the birds were
alert and looking at us so all heads were up and facing us. We put
the scope on it and the following persons confirmed the sighting:
Paul Johnsgard, Josef Kren, Jackie Canterbury, Fujiyo Koizumi,
Michelle Johnson, Randy Yeager and Linda R. Brown.

Josef, Paul and I drove back so we could give you good directions to
the field where it was spotted two days in a row. (I have now been
by the field four times in two days and only saw it once. There are
two young eagles in the area keeping the flock of sandhills flighty.
So, I wish you lots of good luck!)

The GIS coordinates for the crane field (from the road) are
40 degrees,41'940, 098 degrees,46'214. The abandoned eagle nest is
at 40 degrees 41'940, 090 degrees,46'648.

1.Directions from Shelton Exit off I-80. Driving directions from
Interstate 80, Exit 291, the Shelton exit. Drive south 1.5 miles. The
crane field is 1.5 miles west of the Shelton Rd 24th Rd intersection
(The field is on 24th-the road going west). The cranes were on the
north side of the road. For reference: There is an abandoned eagle
nest on the south side of the road 1.9 miles west from the
intersection of Shelton Rd and 24th.

2. Directions from Gibbon Exit south off of I-80. Paul wrote out
directions from the Gibbon Bridge Crane Viewing Platform. (This large
platform is located on about the 5th Platte River channel bridge
south of the Gibbon exit off of I-80. This viewing platform is
accessed from Elm Island Rd which is the road directly south of the
bridge. To see the common crane, drive east of Elm Island Rd to
Sodtown Rd. North on Sodtown Rd to 17th, east to Sioux, north to
24th, then east to crane field on north of road. The crane field is
0.4mile east beyond the abandoned eagle nest on the south side of the road.

An Update

My mother passed away Tuesday evening. The funeral is later today.

After I deal with the necessary details, blogging will resume. Hopefully the latter part of next week.