Joel Dinda's photos with the keyword: sandhills

Overhead. Directly overhead.

Please pardon the amateurish (18 second) video. Thanks. Some clues, here, about why we find our way to Michigan Audubon's CraneFest most autumns. All those large birds. All that noise.

Sandhill Cranes against the sky, at Michigan Audubon's Baker Sanctuary. I'm pleased with the composition on this one, but am unhappy with the detail. Once again I was using the Nikon V2 and the 300 mm lens, but still wasn't nailing the focus. Still learnin'. Things will eventually sort out, I expect.

South of Delton, Michigan. About a month ago I found dozens of cranes in this field ; today there were but three. And a reminder: The Baker Sanctuary Crane Fest is this weekend. We'll be there on Sunday.

In memory of Gary Masemore ( cminer52 on Flickr ), a far better bird photographer than I am. Gonna miss y', guy.

South of Delton, Michigan. Actually there were more like a hundred cranes in this field. Autumn's coming, and the flocks are gathering....

North of Charlotte, Michigan.

Another photo from our recent visit to the Maple River State Game Area. As I've said, most of the birds near the paths were sandpipers. But there were water birds where there was water, and my long lens was able to get some photographs.... Near dead center in this photograph is some other bird. Anyone want to ID it for me?

Kinda wish I'd taken the long lens.... Bennett farm, Saturday, while we were building the patio.

This weekend the Michigan Audubon Society and Battle Creek Kiwanis are hosting Crane Fest at Baker Sanctuary, near Bellevue, Michigan. Thousands of Sandhill Cranes gather at Big Marsh Lake every evening in October. Well worth your evening. What my camera cannot capture is the glorious racket these large birds make. Absolutely incredible. Shot from the Kiwanis Youth Area , which will be open from 4 to 7 every Saturday and Sunday in October. If you can't make the festival, you can still see the spectacle. Go. You'll enjoy!