Our first outing of the new year was to the Vancouver Lake Lowlands for a tour of the Sandhill Cranes wintering habitat given by the Columbia Land Trust. Accompanied by the intrepid Rosa, we stayed with the cranes as long as we could in the cold wet weather, and then headed up to the Ridgefield WIldlife Refuge for a circuit around their auto-tour before the early winter sunset. Four days later Nancy and I returned first thing in the morning, to find the river socked in with fog. We sidetracked for a walk along Vancouver Lake, and then returned to the river to spend the rest of the cold sunny morning with the cranes. More words and images on Nancy’s blog; here are my photos.
(Click any image for a lightbox style slideshow of all the photos in this gallery.)
Tall gray sandhill cranes, snow geese, canada geese, and an occasional duck in the field closest to the covered picnic area. 
Who knew Escher was a birder? 
The snow geese have black tipped wings, the canada geese have a white line between their dark body and tail feathers. 
Groups of crane among the geese in the muddy field. 
Crane and geese grazing in the wide rows of corn planted for them on this site. 
Alfalfa and summer wheat are planted between the corn patches and harvested leaving plenty for grazing and small mammals. 
Swans in the rain at Ridgefield. 
Otters playing on the bank of the canal. 
Deer, watching each other closely, unconcerned about the passing cars. 
Canada goose in the shady wetland. 
A hooded merganser. 
Bald eagle. 
Another bald eagle. Earlier one flew over our car, either one of these or a third. 
Red-wing blackbird keeping everyone informed in the rain. 
Sandhill cranes in the grass as the sun sets. 
Great blue heron in the last light. 
Foggy and cold morning. The cranes slept in. 
Golden crowned sparrow 
Snow geese catching the sunlight on their breasts as they fly over the fog. 
The view towards the Columbia River. When we came back a couple hours later … 
… this is what was on the river in the fog. We had no idea it was there. 
On the north trail at Vancouver Lake. 
This Stellar’s Jay was caching some find in the crevasse of the tree. 
Keeping an eye on things. 
Cooper’s Hawk 
Sandhill cranes and Mt. Hood, after the fog had lifted. 
A group of cranes in the field that had been so crowded three days earlier. 
Plenty of squabbling among the cranes, especially during landing maneuvers. 
Crane on the wing. 
Cranes above and below Mt. Hood. 
This kestral was very interested in the open field. 
A group of cranes passing by. 
Cranes with Mt. St. Helens in the background. 
Departing cranes with Mt. Hood behind them. 
Mt. St. Helens from the Vancouver Lake Lowlands, about 20 miles NE.
Discoveries 
LOVE. Kestral shot begging to be background of an ad I design. Love group shot/Escher one. Really enjoy these. Landing squabble one is so interesting. xoxo
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As far as I’m concerned you can use the photo. But the kestrel probably wants licensing fees, and I wouldn’t piss him off if I were you.
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Love the “flying” shots!
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I love these captures. Already looking forward to your next adventure. The cranes are just stunning to see and I’m envious of the shots in flight. Nicely done!
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EXQUISITE PHOTOS!! The cranes in flight take my breath away. The fog is remarkably beautiful.
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Glad you liked them, Rachel! As a Hueneme boy, I’ve always been partial to fog. I don’t remember the marine layer being quite that cold, though.
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