Summer's End

I haven't posted since back in June.  I've been enjoying our short summer and spending time with family visiting from out-of-town, and just have had a hard time sitting down at my computer.  Now Fall is in the air with cooler weather and the leaves starting to turn color, and I'm spending more time indoors.  We've had heavy rain for most of the week, but I took some photos at Creamer's Field earlier in the week.

This weekend is the Crane Festival at Creamer's Field, and the Sandhill Cranes have been gathering.  Of course, they don't care what us crazy humans are doing--they're just stocking up and feeding the family before heading south.  The Crane pair below has two colts this year, the two with the rusty patches on their heads.  They'll develop the distinctive red patches this winter.

The weather hasn't been conducive to getting really good shots of the Cranes so far this year, but the photo below was taken on August 27th, 2011 when we had some lovely sunny weather.  It's my Index No. 0047, which I'm linking with Gaelyn's Foto Friday Fun 126.

I'm also linking with Good Fences #75

at the Run "A" Round Ranch Report.

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.