Monday, July 28, 2014

Summer in Minnesota

We saw a pair of Sandhill Cranes in a hay field.

Sandhill Cranes

I am not sure what the bird was that was sitting on the hay bale.  We usually don’t see Sandhill Cranes in the summertime.  I have seen them in the spring and fall when they are migrating…but only one other year have I seem them in the summer.

Summer is advancing quickly.  The temperatures at night are cool.  52 F or 11C eh.  Quite cool for July night time temperatures.

The Fireweed is blooming.

Fireweed

We are getting company from Iowa this week, an old friend will spend sometime with us…I am not sure I can call him an old bachelor…he was married once upon a time and has a daughter and a grandson.  I am certain he will show up in a tank of a vehicle…picture some old Cadillac with leather seats.  Last time he was here whilst he was driving all over the area I could stretch out full length in the backseat and have a nap when I became bored with the men’s conversation. 

The neighbors shared their company from Oklahoma this past week, we had several nights of meals together followed by a rousing card game called “Oh Hell.”

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24 comments:

Pauline Persing said...

We see Sandhill cranes flying over occasionally in spring and fall. Always enjoy seeing the pairs and their chicks in Florida in March. I'm not familiar with fireweed. Glad you are having fun with friends and relatives this summer. Your grandchildren are growing up fast.

Marty said...

I love the image of this fellow with his big old car.

Anonymous said...

Fun to see the cranes. I loved your description of the bachelor's car and your ability to lay down and tune out the men!!!

thecrazysheeplady said...

Hawk perhaps? They sit on the bales here frequently. Have fun napping in the car :-D.

Meggie said...

We've had an unusual summer, too! It rained almost every week until recently. Now the temps are soaring to 100. Hopefully, some of your cooler weather will find it's way to Texas.

DJan said...

We're enjoying some of the most perfect weather so far this year, low eighties, a light breeze. We get down to about 55 at night, it makes sleeping easy. We have fireweed in bloom around here, too. :-)

Linda Kay said...

Thanks for sharing that image of your visitor...I can almost picture him. Hope you have a wonderful visit. The card game sounds like fun.

Primitive Stars said...

Morning, beautiful picture of the Cranes, I hear them calling out at the lake some morning. Nice to have visitors from out of State, enjoy, Blessings Francine.

Red said...

Night temperatures are done to 10 C here 50 F eh? Sometimes non breeding cranes go off by themselves to a different location. The days have also got noticeably shorter.

Nancy said...

I've never seen Sandhill crane in the summer. I love their gurgling call - so distinctive.

Karen said...

We don't see many unwrapped hay bales here. Most of them are baled and wrapped in the same machine, or a wrapper follows along behind the baler. That bird on the bale sort of looked like a young bald eagle when I zoomed in a bit closer. Too blurry to be sure though:) We have lots of fireweed here too.
Those are cool evening temperatures!

Cynthia said...

I love the Sandhills cranes! We saw quite a few in central Wisconsin yesterday, including the half grown babies, out in the fields. Must be a good year for them.

L. D. said...

I have always wanted to go see the cranes in Nebraska when they migrate. I don't think I have ever seen any in life unless it was at a zoo. I wouldn't think they have nested in the area or they would have had young ones with them.

kathy b said...

Must look up that game Oh Hell!!

Intense Guy said...

The mystery bird definitely has a hawk profile. Perhaps a Swainson's Hawk or a Red-tailed - I think both of them can have the white "shoulder bars". I'm awed you see the Sandhills!!! I saw some of them at the other end of their migration (in Florida) and they are really something to watch!

Jenn Jilks said...

Fireweed is my favourite, I think!

Paul said...

The Sandhill Cranes are "as thick as flies on s" around here in NE Wisconsin. Embarrass / Clintonville area they are as plentiful as Canada Geese. I've got a couple in the hayfield across the highway here in Greenville.
The 'croaking' drives me crazy! Quiet today and probably the rest of the week -- the EAA B17 is flying over regularly (and it flies just about as slow as a crane).

Linda Reeder said...

It's in the high 80's here in Seattle today. We will soon be heading out for a soccer match at the stadium. No jackets required this evening!

Jacqi Stevens said...

I saw a white crane just this morning while driving into town. Those cranes have a way of perching at the very highest branches of our majestic valley oaks here...quite a startling picture, up so high in the tree, framed by the bright blue background of the summer sky! Don't see them very often around here, but when we do, they are quite the sight.

Leah said...

Oh dear, yes summer seems to be dwindling away ~ enjoy your company!

Anonymous said...

Sounds as if you're having a great summer!

Sam I Am...... said...

I swear we are going to have an early fall as we have had plenty of rain here yet there are leaves turning color. The humming birds are still here thought so we're okay still. LOL! I'm having company from Iowa too this week. I think it's in between planting and harvesting so they leave town and it's too early for Hawkeye games. Ha! Ha! It's in the 60's when I get up in the morning.....loving it!

Terry and Linda said...

I love those roomy old cars!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Rita said...

The weather has turned quite fall-like so maybe they are being fooled--LOL! ;)
I've never heard of "Oh Hell". Sounds like fun.
Enjoy your company and I hope he brings a big old car. Take a pillow with you. ;)