Crex Crane Cacophony

This Black Friday instead of waiting in line at big box stores and bumping elbows with frantic Christmas Shoppers I decided to spend the morning birding in the Crex Meadows Wildlife Refuge north of Grantsburg, WI.  Since it is almost December and reports of Snowy Owls were pouring in from all over the state I was really excited about the opportunity to find one of the winter seasons most majestic birds.

However, my plans were altered when I pulled over to scan for early morning Short-eared owls near the Main Dike Rd.   As soon as I opened my car door and stepped into the cool morning air the calls of thousands of Sandhill Cranes filled my ears.  I darted back into my car and drove with the windows wide open turning in whichever direction the calls seemed louder.  Soon I found myself just a bit north of Phantom Lake and smack dab in the middle of thousands of Cranes, hundreds of Geese, and even some Trumpeter Swans.

I quickly set up my camera and spent the next hour and a half waiting for them to all fly directly toward the sunrise at the same time.  Unfortunately they weren't that obliging but they did accommodate a few great scenes.  The last pan at the end of the video was taken just before I left and was only a small slice of the birds that remained.  I have been trying to guess how many were there at first light but really I just have no idea. MANY!!!

Crex Meadows and a Surprise Butterfly

Crex Meadows in Burnett County Wisconsin has always been a favorite birding destination of mine, and it just so happens to be conveniently located right on the route I take to visit my mother.  This past weekend I was able to head down there in the hopes of finding large swaths of mud flats on the waterfowl impoundments - unfortunately our wet summer dashed those hopes.  Crex however never disappoints and I went away with two great memories!

First was this pair of turtles.  

The turtle in front is a Blanding's Turtle - note its bright yellow throat and "boxy" shell.  The turtle in back is a rather small Painted Turtle - I assume the painted turtle is only improving his basking angle by crawling up the back of the other turtle but still the pose is both suggestive and to those of us that are easily amused - somewhat humorous. (I believe the projection on the underside of the painted turtle is a snail)

On my way out of the Crex Area I stumbled across this large group of butterflies...

In this picture you can see White Admirals, Viceroys, and an Azure.  If you are aren't aware of what these beautiful creatures are doing - please see the next picture - some of us meet at water coolers others...

...meet at the dung heap.  Whenever I see these swarms on pooh it makes me wonder how terrible my odor must have been on the occasions when butterflies have landed on my person to lap up some sweat : )

Away from Crex and in Polk County at my mom's place I added a new butterfly to my Continental 48 list.

This Giant Swallowtail and at least two others were feeding on thistle flowers in the ditch in front of my Mom's house.  These butterflies can have wingspans almost reaching 6"!  Very cool and very distinctive (even in flight).