Winter birds

A Common Crane reported in Nebraska had us thinking, how would an Asian crane come to Nebraska ? Later I read that one has been found wintering in NE several times. The decision was made to drive into NE and find the Common Crane. The Platte River runs across the full width of Nebraska, creating a narrow riparian area with a few trees. Even in the winter it was pretty.
This Common Crane was foraging with the Sandhill Cranes in an agricultural area south of Wood River. Quite a remarkable bird with its black and white neck.
Today we drove south to Valmount Reservoir in Boulder. Fresh snow on the mountains was beautiful. Many Red-tail Hawks, 2 or 3 Ferruginous Hawks, and a juvenile Bald Eagle were sitting on phone poles along the highways. We found the Tundra Swan feeding on the reservoir. A NEW bird for Nina. Most of the duck ponds and marshes are frozen. Valmount has open water thru the winter because of the power plant discharging hot water into the resevoir.
The big snowstorm that hit Denver bought only 5 inches to Greeley, and less to Wyoming.

Photos by Nina of a Townsend's Solitaire in the bird bath with a female House Finch, and a Downy Woodpecker who ignores the peanut butter suet I made from them and eats out of the feeder.

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