It’s a yearly expedition–shooting the Sandhill Cranes. They are found in and around the Sacramento Delta. This trip, Laura and I started out at Consumnes River Preserve.  Right away, I learned another valuable lesson: have your camera ready before you leave home! I was going to put the big F/4, 300 mm lens on the D7100 once we got to Consumnes, but as soon as we got off the freeway we saw a flock of Sandhills near the fence. They usually like to be deep in the fields. By the time I got my camera ready–they were deep in the field.

I’m always learning lessons! For me, experience is the best teacher. I’m not crying over not having my camera ready for the best shot of the day. I did manage to get some good images as we went from preserve to preserve.

I was amazed at how many Sandhills there were this year. They were everywhere. In past years they were scarce. The drought may have contributed to that.

It was a fun day, chasing the big birds, finding other wildlife and shooting landscapes. Here are the results.

Sandhill walking.

They stick together.

In the middle of the field.

Not facing his friends.

Up close.

This Great Blue Heron was walking along.

Here he sort of blends into the background.

Up close.

Snowy Egret

I did some landscapes.

I liked the sky in this one.

This plowed field has a nice design.

Small bird helping advertise the Preserve.

Flying duck.

Still standing!

Another small bird.