Another Rare Visitor to Middle Creek Wildlife Area - a Sandhill Crane

After reading a listserv message reporting the sighting of a Sandhill Crane at Middle Creek wildlife Area - I decided to 'chase' this bird. While Sandhill Cranes are not mega rare they are ABA code 3 rare sighting in our area.

I arrived at MCWA around 10:50am - to see aa local birder with his camera out  taking photo's...the Sandhill was not visible at the moment. I pulled in to the location, and questioned him if he had seen the Crane and sure enough it was in the fiedl...but had walked into the tall grass and the head and neck where the only part visible (see below)
 

Sandhill Crane in tall grass

Sandhill Crane..in tall grass when I first arrived

By now there where 6 birders present, and as we chatted something spooked the Sandhill Crane and it flew into the newly planted corn field...giving us exceptional views.

I took photo's and observed the Crane for about 1 hour - and as more birders where arriving - I decided to leave. The last reported Sandhill Crane visit to Middle Creek was in 2014 and that was in the Lebanon County not the Lancasater County side of the area.

I ended my morning at MCWA with 41 species included a Sandhill Crane...a good day for sure.

A beautiful morning a Middle Creek - stop 1

Visitors Center Pond...a wonderful morning for birding

Until next time...good birding.