A Birder's Sunset

[rtbaum]

I sat in a grassy "parking lot" for an hour and a half, among swarming mosquitoes, waiting for this shot. Sandhill Cranes have begun to arrive to the refuge. Every sunset, they fly in to their roosting area for the night. Through October their number will swell to well over 10,000...in 1992, their were only 87.

[Wavelength]

So lovely; i feel some top part can be avoided to make the birds are seen towards the top of the image than in the middle

[madcrow]

That is one beautiful image. Love the soft colours. One to be proud of.

[NorthernFocus]

Sounds like an interesting place to visit now and then. The cranes have departed here. Saw and heard plenty passing by but never got a chance to get out with the camera.

[rtbaum]

That is one beautiful image. Love the soft colours. One to be proud of.

I hope to try this again in a couple weeks when I attend a special trip with the refuge manager at dawn when the roosting cranes take of for the fields. At that time there will be many more in flight.

[rtbaum]

Sounds like an interesting place to visit now and then. The cranes have departed here. Saw and heard plenty passing by but never got a chance to get out with the camera.

I have visited Sherburne NWR about once every two weeks throughout the season, this time of the year is all about the cranes. I am anticipating a new high count for the population, I have definitely seen them in new areas throughout the summer. Swans are doing good as well.

[joebranko]

Beautiful! +1 to Nandakumar's suggestion of a crop at the top.