In the tall grass

Approaching the midpoint of November and winter weather has yet to make an appearance in the valley. Mild nights and cool mornings greet the sandhill cranes as they lounge in the tall grass during their stay.

Crowds of visitors filled the wetlands parking lot as they waited for nightfall to see the cranes’ arrival. The large number of people may have kept the cranes farther back in the wetlands. for the first time in 11 years I saw a pack of coyotes scamper across the grass foraging for food. Hopefully rains will return soon and the cranes will have a little more wetlands to enjoy before the continue their winter migration flights.