Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR

Two Whooping Cranes stopped over at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge on their way to Texas last week.

I took the opportunity Saturday afternoon to take my camera down and try to shoot some pictures of them.  Thanks to the help of a birdwatcher with a big sighting scope, I was directed to where they stood.

My 70-200mm lens did what it could, but I really could have used a longer piece of glass to take a better shot of these rare birds.

Maybe one of these days I’ll start taking up a collection for new camera gear.

After seeing the Whooping Cranes on the Little Salt Marsh, I went up to the Wildlife Drive at the Big Salt Marsh and took pictures of some great shore birds and beached carp.  Yes, beached carp.  It was quite the sight.

Little did I know that at that same time, 12 more Whooping Cranes were flying in.

Hmmm, might need to start collecting for that camera gear fund sooner than I thought.

Here are my pics from an afternoon at Quivira NWR:

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