More From Creamer's Field

We've taken several walks around Creamer's Field during the last several days.  The fields are full of Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese and various other waterfowl.

There's lots to see, including the barns, Sandhill Cranes and Canada Geese, and some fences for Theresa's Good Fences.

 

And more fences.  There are a lot of fences around Creamer's Field.


I always like spotting one of my favorites birds, White-fronted Geese.

The seasonal pond, which should be empty this time of year, is providing a bit of extra beauty.  The picture below was taken on the 26th.

 

 Fall is rapidly catching up with us.  The picture below was taken at the same spot, only on the 22nd.

We keep getting rain showers, which tends to limits good photo opportunities.  The seasonal pond on the 26th shows a shower starting that sent us back to the car, but we'll come another day when there's a bit of sunshine.

I am linking up with Good Fences

at the Run "A" Around Ranch Report.

Around Creamer's Field

 

Cranes at Creamer's

This weekend is the Sandhill Crane Festival at Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, with lots of activities for Crane enthusiasts.  The Sandhill Cranes have been gathering at the Field for the last few weeks in preparation for flying south.  If you're looking for peace and quiet you'll want to go somewhere else.  The Cranes are busy catching up with a summer's worth of gossip, and are quite noisy.  

The photos above were taken in the last couple of days, but the photo below is from my archives and is Index No. 1414 for sharing with Gaelyn's Foto Friday Fun 73.  It was taken on August 15th, 2011.  And, yes, I'm one of those Crane enthusiasts, with thousands of photos of Cranes.

I am also linking with Eileen's Saturday's Critters.

Ornamental Iron Fence

I've posted some of the ornamental iron fence designs that can be seen in various places around town.  Here's some that are along a busy road that's on our way home.

I'm linking up with Good Fences

at the Run "A" Round Ranch.

Sydney's Close Encounter

Last week we visited Pioneer Park (aka Alaskaland).  They have a great playground for the kids, and Sydney had a lot of fun playing with her Uncle Brian and Aunt Andi and Papa.

Swings are always a big hit with the kids and the young-at-heart.

A brief rest at a picnic table to watch a ladybug was fun too--until the ladybug got up close and personal with Sydney.

She wasn't too thrilled to see it quite that close......

.....and was much happier to study it when it was crawling on Papa's hand instead of her face!

Cranes and Fireweed

This last week a family of Sandhill Cranes have been visiting our neighborhood.  This morning they investigated our backyard.  Mom and Dad have a red crown while the youngsters or colts have rusty plumage atop their head.  

I am linking up with Eileen

at Saturday's Critters.

I am also sharing the following photo from my archives with Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 72.  Foto Friday Fun uses an indexed photo from your archives and this weeks number is 3847.  My photo was taken July 29, 2013, at Creamer's Field.  Last year the Fireweed was plentiful, but sadly this year we've had a lot of rain and cool weather and the Fireweed blooms are rather sparse.

Children's Garden

The Georgeson Botanical Gardens at the University of Alaska has a children's garden with a lot of fun things for kids to do.  The gate into the garden has an adult entrance with a smaller entrance for kids.

The side of the archway has a child at play and Sweet Peas climbing up the ironwork.

After you go through the archway you find a large tree house with a view down the hillside.

When we were there on Sunday my granddaughter Sydney found a friend from her preschool who was at the garden with her dad.  That's Sydney on the right.  The walkway to the right takes you around through the trees to the viewing area.

The walkway straight ahead has an undulating section that takes a little bit of concentration.  I took the longer route on the boards that did not move around!  The ornamental ironwork in the fence is the fence I posted in May.   You can see that post HERE.

Up the hillside from the tree house is another section of the ornamental ironwork fencing, watched over by a friendly bear welcoming everyone to the children's garden. 

This section features a pond with ducks and cattails.  There are more fun things for kids to do in the children's garden, and I'll get back to them another day.

I am linking with Good Fences

at the Run "A" Round Ranch Report.