More than normal activity Wednesday

Sandhill Cranes in defense of their single chick.
Usually I can't get closer than 200-300 meters in the open. But in this instance they would allow me access as close as 75-100 meters. And then would walk back and forth tempting me. 
Or they would fly  away for a short distance landing behind me. 
And in one instance did the "broken wing" act.

No. Didn't collide with the tree

Great Acting!

What the effort was all about

Killdeer on the Serpent River.

 

Eastern Kingbird constructing nest

Grackle gathering nesting materials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the ever popular Wood-Ducks

 

The bear went over the mountain

and slid down.

Resulting in a Black Bear's Bare Backside

One Big Bad-ass Bear

3 Ravens perched on the Sanctuary's notice/picture board.

enjoying a meal of the asphalt shingles. Odd way to get roughage in the diet

Indigestion?

Another fox. This one unusual for the stark white on the face. Usually a softer white

Beaver adding an armload of vegetation and mud to the lodge. Home Improvements.

Hooded Mergansers landing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living dangerously. Lays eggs right in middle of a gravel road.

Mallards, Teal, And a Great Blue Heron (finally)

Green Winged Teal

 Mallards

 

GBH counting fish

Somebody in there?

Armpit looks OK

Trying another location, tricky landing

 

What a hair-do

Golden-eye family

Sharing is nice.

Something's coming. I'll hold them off while y'all git!

Competion for available housing

Golden Eyes. One Drake 3 females. Nesting box already occupied

Current occupant en garde

Challenger rises to the occasion

Sees an open doorway and is encouraged

Looking promising

Oops.

Never mind we're going in anyway

Make way for the new owner

No you don't missy. Buzz off!

Purple Finch