These are some images of whooping cranes photographed on the Intracoastal Highway on the outer banks of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The whooping cranes' images were captured from the deck of the "Jack Flash," a boat I chartered through Aransas Bay Birding Charters. It was a great experience as Kevin Sims, the owner/operator, was able to get me very close, relatively speaking, to the whooping cranes. The handsome whooping cranes spend their winters at Aransas NWR after flying some 2,500 miles from northern Canada. You will also find the close cousin of the whooping crane, the much more numerous Sandhill Cranes that also spend their winters throughout south Texas. Other birds in this family are the rails, grebes and coots. http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-6/457841777_Jod4w-Ti.jpg http://maestros.smugmug.com/gallery/3895123_E85uo/ 2009-11-23T09:37:06Z Copyright 2009, the copyright holder of each photograph. Some portions copyright SmugMug. All rights reserved. SmugMug <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this juvenile foraging through the marshy wetla ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#457841777_Jod4w" title="Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this juvenile foraging through the marshy wetla ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-6/457841777_Jod4w-Th.jpg" width="150" height="125" alt="Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this juvenile foraging through the marshy wetla ..." title="Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this juvenile foraging through the marshy wetla ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-6/457841777_Jod4w-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 10:03:05 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This juvenile whooping crane was really digging in the mud, as was its parent, searching for crustaceans primarily or if it got lucky, a blue crab. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Ro ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#461473429_hPqCS" title="This juvenile whooping crane was really digging in the mud, as was its parent, searching for crustaceans primarily or if it got lucky, a blue crab. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Ro ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-7/461473429_hPqCS-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="This juvenile whooping crane was really digging in the mud, as was its parent, searching for crustaceans primarily or if it got lucky, a blue crab. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Ro ..." title="This juvenile whooping crane was really digging in the mud, as was its parent, searching for crustaceans primarily or if it got lucky, a blue crab. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Ro ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-7/461473429_hPqCS-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 10:01:58 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this adult foraging through the marshy wetland ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#457850576_mKmn2" title="Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this adult foraging through the marshy wetland ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-8/457850576_mKmn2-Th.jpg" width="150" height="125" alt="Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this adult foraging through the marshy wetland ..." title="Just minutes after arriving at the area of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where some whooping cranes are known to frequent I encountered this adult foraging through the marshy wetland ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-8/457850576_mKmn2-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 09:54:50 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This adult female whooping crane seemed to be posing for the two boats of birders and photographers that had stopped in the Texas Intracoastal Highway looking into the Aransas National Wildl ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#457859501_xHrvm" title="This adult female whooping crane seemed to be posing for the two boats of birders and photographers that had stopped in the Texas Intracoastal Highway looking into the Aransas National Wildl ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-5/457859501_xHrvm-Th.jpg" width="125" height="150" alt="This adult female whooping crane seemed to be posing for the two boats of birders and photographers that had stopped in the Texas Intracoastal Highway looking into the Aransas National Wildl ..." title="This adult female whooping crane seemed to be posing for the two boats of birders and photographers that had stopped in the Texas Intracoastal Highway looking into the Aransas National Wildl ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-5/457859501_xHrvm-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 10:05:02 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Strolling through the mudflats keeping a watchful eye out for its young which was just behind it and walking toward this adult. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Near Rockport, Texas, Janua ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#461133896_R5Z5u" title="Strolling through the mudflats keeping a watchful eye out for its young which was just behind it and walking toward this adult. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Near Rockport, Texas, Janua ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-15/461133896_R5Z5u-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Strolling through the mudflats keeping a watchful eye out for its young which was just behind it and walking toward this adult. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Near Rockport, Texas, Janua ..." title="Strolling through the mudflats keeping a watchful eye out for its young which was just behind it and walking toward this adult. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Near Rockport, Texas, Janua ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-15/461133896_R5Z5u-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 10:03:42 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />I was able to sneak up to this whooping crane family. There were in a small cove that makes up the Texas Intracoastal Highway. Since the tide was out, the boat operator let me off on a sma ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#458640009_Jvszk" title="I was able to sneak up to this whooping crane family. There were in a small cove that makes up the Texas Intracoastal Highway. Since the tide was out, the boat operator let me off on a sma ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-4/458640009_Jvszk-Th.jpg" width="150" height="131" alt="I was able to sneak up to this whooping crane family. There were in a small cove that makes up the Texas Intracoastal Highway. Since the tide was out, the boat operator let me off on a sma ..." title="I was able to sneak up to this whooping crane family. There were in a small cove that makes up the Texas Intracoastal Highway. Since the tide was out, the boat operator let me off on a sma ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-4/458640009_Jvszk-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:27:47 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />I was fortunate to be able to approach this family in "stealth" mode. My boat operator had dropped me off about 200 yards away on a small island. I walked, crouched and eventually crawled ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#460407802_x6Pyz" title="I was fortunate to be able to approach this family in "stealth" mode. My boat operator had dropped me off about 200 yards away on a small island. I walked, crouched and eventually crawled ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-3dodged/460407802_x6Pyz-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="I was fortunate to be able to approach this family in "stealth" mode. My boat operator had dropped me off about 200 yards away on a small island. I walked, crouched and eventually crawled ..." title="I was fortunate to be able to approach this family in "stealth" mode. My boat operator had dropped me off about 200 yards away on a small island. I walked, crouched and eventually crawled ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-3dodged/460407802_x6Pyz-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:24:32 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />A trio of whooping cranes feeding in a quiet cove along the Texas Intracoastal Highway near Aransas NWR. I was laying down on my stomach on a berm that bordered this cove. Near Rockport, T ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#463148841_dcMxA" title="A trio of whooping cranes feeding in a quiet cove along the Texas Intracoastal Highway near Aransas NWR. I was laying down on my stomach on a berm that bordered this cove. Near Rockport, T ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-2/463148841_dcMxA-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="A trio of whooping cranes feeding in a quiet cove along the Texas Intracoastal Highway near Aransas NWR. I was laying down on my stomach on a berm that bordered this cove. Near Rockport, T ..." title="A trio of whooping cranes feeding in a quiet cove along the Texas Intracoastal Highway near Aransas NWR. I was laying down on my stomach on a berm that bordered this cove. Near Rockport, T ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-2/463148841_dcMxA-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:22:42 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This small family group of whooping cranes allowed me to approach rather closely as they felt relatively protected by the confines of this small cove in which they were foraging for food. T ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#463454181_64Rmp" title="This small family group of whooping cranes allowed me to approach rather closely as they felt relatively protected by the confines of this small cove in which they were foraging for food. T ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-17/463454181_64Rmp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="117" alt="This small family group of whooping cranes allowed me to approach rather closely as they felt relatively protected by the confines of this small cove in which they were foraging for food. T ..." title="This small family group of whooping cranes allowed me to approach rather closely as they felt relatively protected by the confines of this small cove in which they were foraging for food. T ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-17/463454181_64Rmp-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:21:36 28.17572263470000 -96.85763597490000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />"Dad, are you finding anything under there?" This pair, a male adult whooping crane, I think, and a juvenile, was looking for lunch around midday in a small cove near the Aransas National W ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#463433225_HW5pJ" title=""Dad, are you finding anything under there?" This pair, a male adult whooping crane, I think, and a juvenile, was looking for lunch around midday in a small cove near the Aransas National W ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-13/463433225_HW5pJ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="131" alt=""Dad, are you finding anything under there?" This pair, a male adult whooping crane, I think, and a juvenile, was looking for lunch around midday in a small cove near the Aransas National W ..." title=""Dad, are you finding anything under there?" This pair, a male adult whooping crane, I think, and a juvenile, was looking for lunch around midday in a small cove near the Aransas National W ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-13/463433225_HW5pJ-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:13:17 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Crouching, stumbling, getting stuck in mud up to my calf, crawling on my hands and knees, water in my shoes, but I finally arrived to a part of this cove where I could photograph this handso ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#461102348_bwU3U" title="Crouching, stumbling, getting stuck in mud up to my calf, crawling on my hands and knees, water in my shoes, but I finally arrived to a part of this cove where I could photograph this handso ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-18/461102348_bwU3U-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="Crouching, stumbling, getting stuck in mud up to my calf, crawling on my hands and knees, water in my shoes, but I finally arrived to a part of this cove where I could photograph this handso ..." title="Crouching, stumbling, getting stuck in mud up to my calf, crawling on my hands and knees, water in my shoes, but I finally arrived to a part of this cove where I could photograph this handso ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-18/461102348_bwU3U-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:22:01 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This was image is another where I was laying on my stomach on berm looking into a small cove on the Texas Intracoastal Highway. The Aransas NWR is in the background. Matagorda Island and m ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#460058575_yPqqi" title="This was image is another where I was laying on my stomach on berm looking into a small cove on the Texas Intracoastal Highway. The Aransas NWR is in the background. Matagorda Island and m ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-16resized/460058575_yPqqi-Th.jpg" width="150" height="113" alt="This was image is another where I was laying on my stomach on berm looking into a small cove on the Texas Intracoastal Highway. The Aransas NWR is in the background. Matagorda Island and m ..." title="This was image is another where I was laying on my stomach on berm looking into a small cove on the Texas Intracoastal Highway. The Aransas NWR is in the background. Matagorda Island and m ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-16resized/460058575_yPqqi-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:14:15 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Off in the distance, I took a picture of this adult whooping crane as it foraged in the shallow waters of a small cove in the waters surrounding the Aransas National Wildlfe Refuge. Near Ro ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#458904779_UWZLp" title="Off in the distance, I took a picture of this adult whooping crane as it foraged in the shallow waters of a small cove in the waters surrounding the Aransas National Wildlfe Refuge. Near Ro ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-14/458904779_UWZLp-Th.jpg" width="150" height="125" alt="Off in the distance, I took a picture of this adult whooping crane as it foraged in the shallow waters of a small cove in the waters surrounding the Aransas National Wildlfe Refuge. Near Ro ..." title="Off in the distance, I took a picture of this adult whooping crane as it foraged in the shallow waters of a small cove in the waters surrounding the Aransas National Wildlfe Refuge. Near Ro ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-14/458904779_UWZLp-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 12:17:07 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This fine whooping crane gave me a nice pose so I took the shot under partly cloudy skies at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The cloudy skies again brought out the y ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225857892_TpJsr" title="This fine whooping crane gave me a nice pose so I took the shot under partly cloudy skies at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The cloudy skies again brought out the y ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-16/225857892_TpJsr-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="This fine whooping crane gave me a nice pose so I took the shot under partly cloudy skies at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The cloudy skies again brought out the y ..." title="This fine whooping crane gave me a nice pose so I took the shot under partly cloudy skies at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The cloudy skies again brought out the y ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-16/225857892_TpJsr-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 11:25:56 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225857610_BTH6H" title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-Trumpet/225857610_BTH6H-Th-1.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ..." title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-Trumpet/225857610_BTH6H-Th-1.jpg 2007-11-20 14:51:38 28.18185092410000 -96.85216426850000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is the very next frame following the previous photo. The whooping crane is still trumpeting loudly. Barrier island in the Texas Intracoastal Highway, near Rockport, Texas, November 20 ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#337721271_8FXY9" title="This is the very next frame following the previous photo. The whooping crane is still trumpeting loudly. Barrier island in the Texas Intracoastal Highway, near Rockport, Texas, November 20 ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-56/337721271_8FXY9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is the very next frame following the previous photo. The whooping crane is still trumpeting loudly. Barrier island in the Texas Intracoastal Highway, near Rockport, Texas, November 20 ..." title="This is the very next frame following the previous photo. The whooping crane is still trumpeting loudly. Barrier island in the Texas Intracoastal Highway, near Rockport, Texas, November 20 ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-56/337721271_8FXY9-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:51:38 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. We were able to get close to the ju ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225860260_27Tp3" title="This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. We were able to get close to the ju ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-44/225860260_27Tp3-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. We were able to get close to the ju ..." title="This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. We were able to get close to the ju ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-44/225860260_27Tp3-Th.jpg 2007-11-19 23:26:43 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. The red area on its bill is actuall ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225857740_AJthH" title="This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. The red area on its bill is actuall ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-15/225857740_AJthH-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. The red area on its bill is actuall ..." title="This is was one of the juvenile whooping cranes we saw near its parents at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007, near Rockport, Texas. The red area on its bill is actuall ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-15/225857740_AJthH-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 11:25:45 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is another picture taken by my wife. This low angle shot is of a juvenile whooping crane foraging. If one looks closely at the end of its bill, one can see that very same red flower s ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225906528_osur9" title="This is another picture taken by my wife. This low angle shot is of a juvenile whooping crane foraging. If one looks closely at the end of its bill, one can see that very same red flower s ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-45/225906528_osur9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is another picture taken by my wife. This low angle shot is of a juvenile whooping crane foraging. If one looks closely at the end of its bill, one can see that very same red flower s ..." title="This is another picture taken by my wife. This low angle shot is of a juvenile whooping crane foraging. If one looks closely at the end of its bill, one can see that very same red flower s ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-45/225906528_osur9-Th.jpg 2007-11-19 23:25:53 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is a juvenile whooping crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas. This juvenile had just made the trip from the northern Canadian breeding grounds where it was b ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#233323087_qPKHN" title="This is a juvenile whooping crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas. This juvenile had just made the trip from the northern Canadian breeding grounds where it was b ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-juvenile/233323087_qPKHN-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is a juvenile whooping crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas. This juvenile had just made the trip from the northern Canadian breeding grounds where it was b ..." title="This is a juvenile whooping crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas. This juvenile had just made the trip from the northern Canadian breeding grounds where it was b ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-juvenile/233323087_qPKHN-Th.jpg 2007-11-19 23:26:21 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This image was actually captured by my wife using my back-up camera. I think she did a great job and it was the only good shot of a whooping crane in flight that we got the whole day. Nove ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225857671_QVxQ4" title="This image was actually captured by my wife using my back-up camera. I think she did a great job and it was the only good shot of a whooping crane in flight that we got the whole day. Nove ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-38/225857671_QVxQ4-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This image was actually captured by my wife using my back-up camera. I think she did a great job and it was the only good shot of a whooping crane in flight that we got the whole day. Nove ..." title="This image was actually captured by my wife using my back-up camera. I think she did a great job and it was the only good shot of a whooping crane in flight that we got the whole day. Nove ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-38/225857671_QVxQ4-Th.jpg 2007-11-19 23:26:46 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Momentarily looking down at something that caught its eye. Whatever it was, it didn't go try to catch it as it pulled up and started slowing strolling on after looking down. Aransas Nation ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#236281662_NyX3i" title="Momentarily looking down at something that caught its eye. Whatever it was, it didn't go try to catch it as it pulled up and started slowing strolling on after looking down. Aransas Nation ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-35/236281662_NyX3i-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Momentarily looking down at something that caught its eye. Whatever it was, it didn't go try to catch it as it pulled up and started slowing strolling on after looking down. Aransas Nation ..." title="Momentarily looking down at something that caught its eye. Whatever it was, it didn't go try to catch it as it pulled up and started slowing strolling on after looking down. Aransas Nation ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-35/236281662_NyX3i-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:52:31 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />The pair separated a bit and I was able to capture this one walking through the grasses. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#226650380_kMV5G" title="The pair separated a bit and I was able to capture this one walking through the grasses. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-24/226650380_kMV5G-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The pair separated a bit and I was able to capture this one walking through the grasses. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007." title="The pair separated a bit and I was able to capture this one walking through the grasses. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, November 20, 2007." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-24/226650380_kMV5G-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:53:11 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Walking across sandy ground on one of the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#235055332_ECwf8" title="Walking across sandy ground on one of the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-20b/235055332_ECwf8-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Walking across sandy ground on one of the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007." title="Walking across sandy ground on one of the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-20b/235055332_ECwf8-Th-1.jpg 2007-11-20 14:40:09 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small islands on the outer banks at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. This one was looking back at its mate who was bit slow. I ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225857968_rY48X" title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small islands on the outer banks at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. This one was looking back at its mate who was bit slow. I ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-17b/225857968_rY48X-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small islands on the outer banks at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. This one was looking back at its mate who was bit slow. I ..." title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small islands on the outer banks at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. This one was looking back at its mate who was bit slow. I ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-17b/225857968_rY48X-Th-1.jpg 2007-11-20 14:39:54 28.18152938680000 -96.85236811640000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />The other adult of the pair was a bit more stoic. It was a much more wary of us. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockpor ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#226943146_fXyi9" title="The other adult of the pair was a bit more stoic. It was a much more wary of us. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockpor ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-26/226943146_fXyi9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The other adult of the pair was a bit more stoic. It was a much more wary of us. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockpor ..." title="The other adult of the pair was a bit more stoic. It was a much more wary of us. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockpor ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-26/226943146_fXyi9-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:52:16 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Whooping Crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This part of the refuge was much closer to Rockport, Texas on a small island in between Aransas NWR and Matagorda Island. The pair had ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#226943257_vyVb9" title="Whooping Crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This part of the refuge was much closer to Rockport, Texas on a small island in between Aransas NWR and Matagorda Island. The pair had ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-30/226943257_vyVb9-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Whooping Crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This part of the refuge was much closer to Rockport, Texas on a small island in between Aransas NWR and Matagorda Island. The pair had ..." title="Whooping Crane from Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This part of the refuge was much closer to Rockport, Texas on a small island in between Aransas NWR and Matagorda Island. The pair had ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-30/226943257_vyVb9-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:50:43 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225858034_L8abp" title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-21b/225858034_L8abp-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping ..." title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-21b/225858034_L8abp-Th-1.jpg 2007-11-20 14:40:19 28.18152938680000 -96.85236811640000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />After moving down the outer banks just a bit we found another pair of whooping cranes close to shore. These were both trumpeting as we came in closer. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, nea ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225892604_abFzR" title="After moving down the outer banks just a bit we found another pair of whooping cranes close to shore. These were both trumpeting as we came in closer. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, nea ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-23/225892604_abFzR-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="After moving down the outer banks just a bit we found another pair of whooping cranes close to shore. These were both trumpeting as we came in closer. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, nea ..." title="After moving down the outer banks just a bit we found another pair of whooping cranes close to shore. These were both trumpeting as we came in closer. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, nea ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-23/225892604_abFzR-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:53:16 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Continuing to track this adult through the grasses, it began to forage but always keeping an eye on me. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlif ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#232557269_TbqjZ" title="Continuing to track this adult through the grasses, it began to forage but always keeping an eye on me. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlif ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-25/232557269_TbqjZ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Continuing to track this adult through the grasses, it began to forage but always keeping an eye on me. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlif ..." title="Continuing to track this adult through the grasses, it began to forage but always keeping an eye on me. Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlif ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-25/232557269_TbqjZ-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:53:10 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. These two had quieted down a bit and one was about to begin foraging ag ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#232557379_eBwqw" title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. These two had quieted down a bit and one was about to begin foraging ag ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-29/232557379_eBwqw-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. These two had quieted down a bit and one was about to begin foraging ag ..." title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. These two had quieted down a bit and one was about to begin foraging ag ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-29/232557379_eBwqw-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:51:22 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The tranquility only lasted a short while as both of them took issue ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#225858120_BhPKG" title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The tranquility only lasted a short while as both of them took issue ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-33/225858120_BhPKG-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The tranquility only lasted a short while as both of them took issue ..." title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small barrier islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. The tranquility only lasted a short while as both of them took issue ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-33/225858120_BhPKG-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:51:23 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />The pair is still foraging. One seems to be preening now. Light and shadows are still harsh, but we were close to the pair. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas, Novembe ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#236320131_UrV7X" title="The pair is still foraging. One seems to be preening now. Light and shadows are still harsh, but we were close to the pair. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas, Novembe ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Cranes-outer-island/236320131_UrV7X-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The pair is still foraging. One seems to be preening now. Light and shadows are still harsh, but we were close to the pair. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas, Novembe ..." title="The pair is still foraging. One seems to be preening now. Light and shadows are still harsh, but we were close to the pair. Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas, Novembe ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Cranes-outer-island/236320131_UrV7X-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:49:57 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Back together again, this pair had stopped pretty much in front of our boat. I started taking these pictures very quickly as the one in back was sounding the alarm. This picture was from a ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#226948954_EhgpK" title="Back together again, this pair had stopped pretty much in front of our boat. I started taking these pictures very quickly as the one in back was sounding the alarm. This picture was from a ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-28/226948954_EhgpK-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Back together again, this pair had stopped pretty much in front of our boat. I started taking these pictures very quickly as the one in back was sounding the alarm. This picture was from a ..." title="Back together again, this pair had stopped pretty much in front of our boat. I started taking these pictures very quickly as the one in back was sounding the alarm. This picture was from a ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-28/226948954_EhgpK-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 14:51:24 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#232557478_2DAW5" title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-48/232557478_2DAW5-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ..." title="Photographed November 20, 2007 on the small outer islands at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, near Rockport, Texas. It was toward the end of the tour when we finally found some whooping c ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-48/232557478_2DAW5-Th-1.jpg 2007-11-20 14:41:36 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This was one of the families of whooping cranes that I saw at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. My wife was lucky enough to photograph this image of this family leaving the area. They had ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#234764165_7FZSj" title="This was one of the families of whooping cranes that I saw at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. My wife was lucky enough to photograph this image of this family leaving the area. They had ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-family-BIF/234764165_7FZSj-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This was one of the families of whooping cranes that I saw at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. My wife was lucky enough to photograph this image of this family leaving the area. They had ..." title="This was one of the families of whooping cranes that I saw at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. My wife was lucky enough to photograph this image of this family leaving the area. They had ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-family-BIF/234764165_7FZSj-Th.jpg 2007-11-19 23:26:57 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />It did not take long for us to find some whooping cranes when we arrived at the outer banks of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Here we were able to see and adult with two juveniles. ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#236468353_ZisgU" title="It did not take long for us to find some whooping cranes when we arrived at the outer banks of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Here we were able to see and adult with two juveniles. ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-5/236468353_ZisgU-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="It did not take long for us to find some whooping cranes when we arrived at the outer banks of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Here we were able to see and adult with two juveniles. ..." title="It did not take long for us to find some whooping cranes when we arrived at the outer banks of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Here we were able to see and adult with two juveniles. ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-Crane-5/236468353_ZisgU-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 10:30:14 28.12937081230000 -96.92876815800000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Within just about 20 minutes of arriving at the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, we spotted this family near the waterline of one of the small islands comprising the outer ba ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#235060454_QdDac" title="Within just about 20 minutes of arriving at the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, we spotted this family near the waterline of one of the small islands comprising the outer ba ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-family-near/235060454_QdDac-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Within just about 20 minutes of arriving at the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, we spotted this family near the waterline of one of the small islands comprising the outer ba ..." title="Within just about 20 minutes of arriving at the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, we spotted this family near the waterline of one of the small islands comprising the outer ba ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:35Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-family-near/235060454_QdDac-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 10:50:58 28.13913474160000 -96.90919876100000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />The family of whooping cranes that we were observing from afar had separated just a bit. Here is one of the adults near the waterline foraging for clams, shrimp, possibly voles in the tall ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#235671341_a5ThW" title="The family of whooping cranes that we were observing from afar had separated just a bit. Here is one of the adults near the waterline foraging for clams, shrimp, possibly voles in the tall ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-near-water/235671341_a5ThW-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The family of whooping cranes that we were observing from afar had separated just a bit. Here is one of the adults near the waterline foraging for clams, shrimp, possibly voles in the tall ..." title="The family of whooping cranes that we were observing from afar had separated just a bit. Here is one of the adults near the waterline foraging for clams, shrimp, possibly voles in the tall ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-near-water/235671341_a5ThW-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 10:47:38 28.13913474160000 -96.90876960750000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This juvenile is from the same family that we had been observing at Aransas NWR. It had separated itself from the male and female but not by much. November 20, 2007.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#235672974_9Drkt" title="This juvenile is from the same family that we had been observing at Aransas NWR. It had separated itself from the male and female but not by much. November 20, 2007."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-Juvenile-near/235672974_9Drkt-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This juvenile is from the same family that we had been observing at Aransas NWR. It had separated itself from the male and female but not by much. November 20, 2007." title="This juvenile is from the same family that we had been observing at Aransas NWR. It had separated itself from the male and female but not by much. November 20, 2007." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Whooping-crane-Juvenile-near/235672974_9Drkt-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 10:47:58 28.14163234800000 -96.90653800960000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />A Whooping Crane pair foraging in the grasses on the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007. We were in the boat maneuvering around trying t ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#234926345_zxZJQ" title="A Whooping Crane pair foraging in the grasses on the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007. We were in the boat maneuvering around trying t ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-cranes-foraging-ver-3/234926345_zxZJQ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="A Whooping Crane pair foraging in the grasses on the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007. We were in the boat maneuvering around trying t ..." title="A Whooping Crane pair foraging in the grasses on the outer banks of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Rockport, Texas, November 20, 2007. We were in the boat maneuvering around trying t ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-cranes-foraging-ver-3/234926345_zxZJQ-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 13:16:00 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />I was able to isolate this adult as it walked away from its mate a bit sounding what I assume to be an alarm call. November 20, 2007.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#235685195_3dncU" title="I was able to isolate this adult as it walked away from its mate a bit sounding what I assume to be an alarm call. November 20, 2007."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-foraging-ver-2/235685195_3dncU-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="I was able to isolate this adult as it walked away from its mate a bit sounding what I assume to be an alarm call. November 20, 2007." title="I was able to isolate this adult as it walked away from its mate a bit sounding what I assume to be an alarm call. November 20, 2007." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/whooping-crane-foraging-ver-2/235685195_3dncU-Th.jpg 2007-11-20 13:16:52 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Harsh light and shadows, but I was able to achieve some nice eye contact. Before leaving the area, I went by this ranch where I had seen these sandhill cranes the previous day in low light. ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#463681895_zSL7A" title="Harsh light and shadows, but I was able to achieve some nice eye contact. Before leaving the area, I went by this ranch where I had seen these sandhill cranes the previous day in low light. ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-5/463681895_zSL7A-Th.jpg" width="150" height="117" alt="Harsh light and shadows, but I was able to achieve some nice eye contact. Before leaving the area, I went by this ranch where I had seen these sandhill cranes the previous day in low light. ..." title="Harsh light and shadows, but I was able to achieve some nice eye contact. Before leaving the area, I went by this ranch where I had seen these sandhill cranes the previous day in low light. ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-5/463681895_zSL7A-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 16:09:17 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Just west of Rockport and heading toward Bayside, Texas, the lands turns into thorny tamaulipan scrub brush. In one of the ranches outside of Rockport I found a small flock of Sandhill Cran ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#458054636_fsKg3" title="Just west of Rockport and heading toward Bayside, Texas, the lands turns into thorny tamaulipan scrub brush. In one of the ranches outside of Rockport I found a small flock of Sandhill Cran ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-4/458054636_fsKg3-Th.jpg" width="150" height="125" alt="Just west of Rockport and heading toward Bayside, Texas, the lands turns into thorny tamaulipan scrub brush. In one of the ranches outside of Rockport I found a small flock of Sandhill Cran ..." title="Just west of Rockport and heading toward Bayside, Texas, the lands turns into thorny tamaulipan scrub brush. In one of the ranches outside of Rockport I found a small flock of Sandhill Cran ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-4/458054636_fsKg3-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 16:06:58 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is another image of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in the scrub brush land that surrounds the Rockport, Texas area. The sandies winter in the area. Rockport, Texas, January 2009 ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#505274168_eMTnt" title="This is another image of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in the scrub brush land that surrounds the Rockport, Texas area. The sandies winter in the area. Rockport, Texas, January 2009 ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-3/505274168_eMTnt-Th.jpg" width="150" height="125" alt="This is another image of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in the scrub brush land that surrounds the Rockport, Texas area. The sandies winter in the area. Rockport, Texas, January 2009 ..." title="This is another image of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in the scrub brush land that surrounds the Rockport, Texas area. The sandies winter in the area. Rockport, Texas, January 2009 ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-3/505274168_eMTnt-Th.jpg 2009-01-18 15:39:44 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This image is from the Rockport area of the Texas Central Coast. These sandhill cranes were found on some ranch land just outside of Rockport in the last light of the day. It had been over ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#457689459_gbawe" title="This image is from the Rockport area of the Texas Central Coast. These sandhill cranes were found on some ranch land just outside of Rockport in the last light of the day. It had been over ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-crane-1/457689459_gbawe-Th.jpg" width="150" height="125" alt="This image is from the Rockport area of the Texas Central Coast. These sandhill cranes were found on some ranch land just outside of Rockport in the last light of the day. It had been over ..." title="This image is from the Rockport area of the Texas Central Coast. These sandhill cranes were found on some ranch land just outside of Rockport in the last light of the day. It had been over ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-crane-1/457689459_gbawe-Th.jpg 2009-01-17 18:24:11 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Low light image of two sandhill cranes foraging in scrub brush at sundown. Rockport, Texas, January 2009</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#506085280_CQrBk" title="Low light image of two sandhill cranes foraging in scrub brush at sundown. Rockport, Texas, January 2009"><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-9/506085280_CQrBk-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Low light image of two sandhill cranes foraging in scrub brush at sundown. Rockport, Texas, January 2009" title="Low light image of two sandhill cranes foraging in scrub brush at sundown. Rockport, Texas, January 2009" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-9/506085280_CQrBk-Th.jpg 2009-01-17 18:29:57 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Another low light image of a sandhill crane foraging in the scrub brush surrounding Rockport, Texas. January, 2009</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#506214502_tHNNd" title="Another low light image of a sandhill crane foraging in the scrub brush surrounding Rockport, Texas. January, 2009"><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-2/506214502_tHNNd-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="Another low light image of a sandhill crane foraging in the scrub brush surrounding Rockport, Texas. January, 2009" title="Another low light image of a sandhill crane foraging in the scrub brush surrounding Rockport, Texas. January, 2009" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-2/506214502_tHNNd-Th.jpg 2009-01-17 18:31:40 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />One could not wait any longer to take this picture as the sun was practically down when I took this picture, but I like how the head plumage and eye stand out even in the last rays of the da ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#461804494_5uMEz" title="One could not wait any longer to take this picture as the sun was practically down when I took this picture, but I like how the head plumage and eye stand out even in the last rays of the da ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-6/461804494_5uMEz-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="131" alt="One could not wait any longer to take this picture as the sun was practically down when I took this picture, but I like how the head plumage and eye stand out even in the last rays of the da ..." title="One could not wait any longer to take this picture as the sun was practically down when I took this picture, but I like how the head plumage and eye stand out even in the last rays of the da ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Crane-6/461804494_5uMEz-Th-1.jpg 2009-01-17 18:25:54 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />While driving just outside of Rockport, Texas, I caught a glimpse of a small flock of sandhill cranes foraging in the south Texas brush. The day was extremely overcast and there was a sligh ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#447540980_DNNjx" title="While driving just outside of Rockport, Texas, I caught a glimpse of a small flock of sandhill cranes foraging in the south Texas brush. The day was extremely overcast and there was a sligh ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Cranes-3/447540980_DNNjx-Th.jpg" width="150" height="130" alt="While driving just outside of Rockport, Texas, I caught a glimpse of a small flock of sandhill cranes foraging in the south Texas brush. The day was extremely overcast and there was a sligh ..." title="While driving just outside of Rockport, Texas, I caught a glimpse of a small flock of sandhill cranes foraging in the south Texas brush. The day was extremely overcast and there was a sligh ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Cranes-3/447540980_DNNjx-Th.jpg 2008-12-23 11:10:19 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is another photo of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in this land just outside Rockport, Texas in December of 2008.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#453326194_6uuUZ" title="This is another photo of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in this land just outside Rockport, Texas in December of 2008."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Cranes-2/453326194_6uuUZ-Th.jpg" width="150" height="132" alt="This is another photo of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in this land just outside Rockport, Texas in December of 2008." title="This is another photo of the sandhill cranes I found foraging in this land just outside Rockport, Texas in December of 2008." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Sandhill-Cranes-2/453326194_6uuUZ-Th.jpg 2008-12-23 11:10:07 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#239549327_E77GV" title="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Coot-2/239549327_E77GV-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008." title="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Coot-2/239549327_E77GV-Th.jpg 2008-01-01 15:29:28 32.63040310660000 -97.04015493390000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie,Texas side, January 2008.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#242636107_pbdp2" title="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie,Texas side, January 2008."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/American-Coot-Lake-Joe-Pool1a/242636107_pbdp2-Th.jpg" width="100" height="150" alt="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie,Texas side, January 2008." title="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie,Texas side, January 2008." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/American-Coot-Lake-Joe-Pool1a/242636107_pbdp2-Th.jpg 2008-01-01 15:30:38 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#242846806_JDzGP" title="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/American-Coot-Lake-Joe-Pool-2/242846806_JDzGP-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008." title="This is an American Coot photographed at Lynn Creek Marina on Lake Joe Pool on the Grand Prairie side, January 2008." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/American-Coot-Lake-Joe-Pool-2/242846806_JDzGP-Th.jpg 2008-01-01 15:29:30 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This particular American Coot was slapping the water with one foot and making all sorts of calls to it friends. I am not sure if it ever got what it wanted. Lynn Creek Marina, Grand Prairi ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#258910500_qtBWa" title="This particular American Coot was slapping the water with one foot and making all sorts of calls to it friends. I am not sure if it ever got what it wanted. Lynn Creek Marina, Grand Prairi ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Coot/258910500_qtBWa-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This particular American Coot was slapping the water with one foot and making all sorts of calls to it friends. I am not sure if it ever got what it wanted. Lynn Creek Marina, Grand Prairi ..." title="This particular American Coot was slapping the water with one foot and making all sorts of calls to it friends. I am not sure if it ever got what it wanted. Lynn Creek Marina, Grand Prairi ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Coot/258910500_qtBWa-Th-1.jpg 2008-01-01 15:27:28 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This was one of the few grebes that I found this day that was just calmly floating in the water. All the others were busy foraging swimming along. White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 200 ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#268878524_kQzwe" title="This was one of the few grebes that I found this day that was just calmly floating in the water. All the others were busy foraging swimming along. White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 200 ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/pied-billed-grebe-4/268878524_kQzwe-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This was one of the few grebes that I found this day that was just calmly floating in the water. All the others were busy foraging swimming along. White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 200 ..." title="This was one of the few grebes that I found this day that was just calmly floating in the water. All the others were busy foraging swimming along. White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 200 ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/pied-billed-grebe-4/268878524_kQzwe-Th-1.jpg 2008-03-20 15:18:27 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This was one of three pied billed grebes that I notice feeding with the coots and other northern shovelers near the White Rock Lake Boathouse. Dallas, Texas, March 2008.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#268489526_aHhK2" title="This was one of three pied billed grebes that I notice feeding with the coots and other northern shovelers near the White Rock Lake Boathouse. Dallas, Texas, March 2008."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/pied-billed-grebe-1/268489526_aHhK2-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This was one of three pied billed grebes that I notice feeding with the coots and other northern shovelers near the White Rock Lake Boathouse. Dallas, Texas, March 2008." title="This was one of three pied billed grebes that I notice feeding with the coots and other northern shovelers near the White Rock Lake Boathouse. Dallas, Texas, March 2008." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/pied-billed-grebe-1/268489526_aHhK2-Th-1.jpg 2008-03-20 15:12:36 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />The light was getting rather harsh, but of course the grebes did not mind. This pied billed grebe stopped foraging momentarily so I took advantage of the little movement and took this pictu ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#268489553_sMogb" title="The light was getting rather harsh, but of course the grebes did not mind. This pied billed grebe stopped foraging momentarily so I took advantage of the little movement and took this pictu ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/pied-billed-grebe-3/268489553_sMogb-Th-1.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The light was getting rather harsh, but of course the grebes did not mind. This pied billed grebe stopped foraging momentarily so I took advantage of the little movement and took this pictu ..." title="The light was getting rather harsh, but of course the grebes did not mind. This pied billed grebe stopped foraging momentarily so I took advantage of the little movement and took this pictu ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/pied-billed-grebe-3/268489553_sMogb-Th-1.jpg 2008-03-20 15:13:00 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />I caught this pied billed grebe yawning a bit in the late afternoon. Do birds even yawn? :-) White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 2008.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#268689872_k2Qze" title="I caught this pied billed grebe yawning a bit in the late afternoon. Do birds even yawn? :-) White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 2008."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Pied-Billed-Grebe-5/268689872_k2Qze-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="I caught this pied billed grebe yawning a bit in the late afternoon. Do birds even yawn? :-) White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 2008." title="I caught this pied billed grebe yawning a bit in the late afternoon. Do birds even yawn? :-) White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas, March 2008." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Pied-Billed-Grebe-5/268689872_k2Qze-Th.jpg 2008-03-20 15:12:40 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is an eared grebe, first fall adult. I found it hanging around the ponds in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. November 2009</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#722226228_3sgN7" title="This is an eared grebe, first fall adult. I found it hanging around the ponds in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. November 2009"><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Eared-Grebe-1/722226228_3sgN7-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is an eared grebe, first fall adult. I found it hanging around the ponds in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. November 2009" title="This is an eared grebe, first fall adult. I found it hanging around the ponds in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. November 2009" style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Eared-Grebe-1/722226228_3sgN7-Th.jpg 2009-11-22 13:32:54 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />This is a heavily cropped shot that I took at quite a distance. It is a clapper rail that was running for the shade and protection of the marshy reeds at the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on So ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#172824695_RDHPu" title="This is a heavily cropped shot that I took at quite a distance. It is a clapper rail that was running for the shade and protection of the marshy reeds at the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on So ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Clapper/172824695_RDHPu-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="This is a heavily cropped shot that I took at quite a distance. It is a clapper rail that was running for the shade and protection of the marshy reeds at the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on So ..." title="This is a heavily cropped shot that I took at quite a distance. It is a clapper rail that was running for the shade and protection of the marshy reeds at the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on So ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Clapper/172824695_RDHPu-Th.jpg 2007-06-11 21:06:02 26.13938328910000 -97.17588543890000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />The same clapper rail is about to make it back into the reeds and tall grasses of the marshy area that makes up most of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#168249259_ARFZE" title="The same clapper rail is about to make it back into the reeds and tall grasses of the marshy area that makes up most of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Rail/168249259_ARFZE-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="The same clapper rail is about to make it back into the reeds and tall grasses of the marshy area that makes up most of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007." title="The same clapper rail is about to make it back into the reeds and tall grasses of the marshy area that makes up most of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Rail/168249259_ARFZE-Th.jpg 2007-06-11 21:06:02 26.13927734210000 -97.17586934570000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />A very shy clapper rail that I caught scurrying across the wetlands area of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007.</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#168247791_xatvv" title="A very shy clapper rail that I caught scurrying across the wetlands area of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Rail2/168247791_xatvv-Th.jpg" width="150" height="100" alt="A very shy clapper rail that I caught scurrying across the wetlands area of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007." title="A very shy clapper rail that I caught scurrying across the wetlands area of the Laguna Madre Nature Trail on South Padre Island, Texas, June 2007." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Rail2/168247791_xatvv-Th.jpg 2007-06-11 21:05:51 26.13925807900000 -97.17591762540000 0 <p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com">Stephen</a><br />Clapper rails are very shy birds so any time I can find one I consider myself lucky. Getting a good shot is just gravy. This isn't a spectacular image, but it is relatively unobstructed. ...</p><p><a href="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/3895123_E85uo#464066221_EET5u" title="Clapper rails are very shy birds so any time I can find one I consider myself lucky. Getting a good shot is just gravy. This isn't a spectacular image, but it is relatively unobstructed. ..."><img src="http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Clapper-Rail-1/464066221_EET5u-Th.jpg" width="150" height="117" alt="Clapper rails are very shy birds so any time I can find one I consider myself lucky. Getting a good shot is just gravy. This isn't a spectacular image, but it is relatively unobstructed. ..." title="Clapper rails are very shy birds so any time I can find one I consider myself lucky. Getting a good shot is just gravy. This isn't a spectacular image, but it is relatively unobstructed. ..." style="border: 1px solid #000000;" /></a></p> 2009-11-23T09:39:36Z Stephen http://maestros.smugmug.com http://maestros.smugmug.com/Animals/Rails-Grebes-Cranes-and-Coots/Clapper-Rail-1/464066221_EET5u-Th.jpg 2008-06-20 19:01:17