One of my favorite birds, besides the one in my lens view, is the Sandhill Crane. I saw my first in eastern Florida where I watched a pair of immature with their mom. This pair I first saw out of the corner of my eye when rounding the south end of Washoe Lake. I pulled over and the good thing about wading birds they don’t run off when you approach. I was able to get fairly close and with the overcast sky I used a shutter speed of 1/1600s, in case they took flight, and used an f/9.0 so I could get both Cranes in focus, which required an ISO1600 (auto ISO on). It’s hard to believe its been a year ago that I was able to capture a pair doing their display dance.

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) - Washoe Lake SP - Wetlands MA, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 3-17-2022 at 11:23
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/9.0, ISO1600, +1/3EV, Conditions: overcast

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) - Pompe Way - Pumphouse Area, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 4-24-2021 at 8:58
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO500, +1/3EV, Conditions: overcast

I lived in the Santa Cruz (CA) area for 20 years before moving to the Reno Nevada area in 2016. The Black-crowned Night Heron is common in Santa Cruz and in the Reno area it is fairly common year round but you need to know where to look for them. The best place to find this Heron is at the Sparks Marina, which was the Helm Pit before its transformation into a Marina.

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) - Sparks Marina, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 1-5-2022 at 8:41
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO1000, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) - Arana Gulch, SCZ (CA)
EQ: Nikon D7200, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 9-16-2016 at 9:47
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/5.6, ISO200, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

The Green Heron is a very uncommon summer visitor and I have only seen 2 since moving to the Reno area. This one was the first and I saw it at the Sparks Marina. This is a good place to photograph birds since they a use to people and the birds don’t fly off like in most local areas.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - Sparks Marina, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D7200, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 9-12-2017 at 9:14
Settings: 750mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/4.0, ISO400, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

According to some field guides, the American Bittern is a summer visitor; however, I have seen most from Nov through early April. This one I walked upon at the edge of the Carson City WWTP Wetlands and it was less than 10m away.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) - Carson City WWTP Wetlands, CAR (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 11-9-2020 at 10:40
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO400, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

The Great Egret is a year round resident in the Reno-Tahoe area. I have been able to capture the Egrets foraging for small fish with a few lucky shots of them capturing their prey. I really like the photo below of the fish about to be swallowed.

Great Egret (Ardea alba) - Diamond Creek Pond, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 11-18-2019 at 10:43
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO720, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny/shade

Great Egret (Ardea alba) - Diamond Creek Pond, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 11-18-2019 at 10:41
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO560, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny/shade

Great Egret (Ardea alba) - Struve Slough, SCZ (CA)
EQ: Nikon D7200, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 7-24-2015 at 10:25
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqv), 1/2500s, f/5.0, ISO250, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

The Snowy Egret is a migrant and breeds in the Reno Area with about 3-4 pair breeding around Virginia Lake, which is located very close to downtown Reno. However, some of my favorite photos where taken in the Santa Cruz area and its yellow feet are used to stir up prey.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) - Natural Bridges SB, SCZ (CA)
EQ: Nikon D7200, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 4-2-2016 at 9:31
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/2.8, ISO320, +1/3EV, Conditions: foggy

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) - Corcoran Lagoon, SCZ (CA)
EQ: Nikon D800, Nikkor 70-200mm f/4.0 Taken: 1-6-2016 at 12:46
Settings: 200mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/4.0, ISO320, +1/3EV, Conditions: foggy

The Cattle Egret is more common but still rare the Santa Cruz area. I was able to capture this one as it flew down the lower section of the Watsonville Slough that runs into the Pacific about 1km away. I have only seen them in Nevada at the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge located in Churchill County about 1.5 hours east of Reno.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - Pajaro Dunes, Lower Watsonville Slough, SCZ (CA)
EQ: Nikon D7200, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 with 1.4 TC Taken: 12-17-2015 at 10:15
Settings: 630mm (35mm eqv), 1/2000s, f/8.0, ISO250, +1/3EV, Conditions: foggy

The White-faced Ibis is a breeding migrant in the area. You can find them in the hundreds so there are many opportunities for some good photos. I found the first Ibis below in a field in the Washoe Valley and in the Carson Valley I found a line of them in a field at Silver Saddle Ranch. The first summer in Reno, J, the pups, and I took a trip to eastern Nevada and I was able to capture an Ibis in flight at the Ruby Lake NWR.

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) - Washoe Valley, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 6-19-2018 at 9:02
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO500, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) - Silver Saddle Ranch, CAR (NV)
EQ: Nikon D7200, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 8-23-2017 at 9:28
Settings: 750mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/4.0, ISO110, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) - Ruby Lake NWR, WHI (NV)
EQ: Nikon D7200, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 with 1.4 TC Taken: 7-3-2016 at 8:54
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.0, ISO200, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

Another common wader is the Great Blue Heron. Again, being so common there are many opportunities to get some good photos. I have many in flight photos but this one is a favorite with the dark water and highlights on the guy. The Great Blue is know to feed on gophers and ground squirrels but a large carp will do too. At Stillwater I found this rookery with over 20 breeding pairs and an overflow of young.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) - Crystal Peak Park, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 4-16-2021 at 7:38
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/5.6, ISO720, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) - Neary Lagoon, SCZ (CA)
EQ: Nikon D800, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 3-35-2016 at 7:53
Settings: 300mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/2.8, ISO360, +1/3EV, Conditions: foggy

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) - Stillwater WMA, CHU (NV)
EQ: Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 Taken: 5-15-2018 at 8:44
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/7.1, ISO800, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

I have seen many more wading birds from Florida to east Russia but most of these were ID photos; however, I did get a photo of a Lesser Flamingo at the Sunnyvale WPCP in the Bay Area (CA): most likely and escapee from a local zoo. In July 2021, a Common Crane (an Eurasian bird) showed up at Carson Lake about 1hr east of Reno. I headed out in search of it and found it but I was only able to get within 1/2km before it took flight north. I return in my truck and passed a few other birders and asked one of them if they saw it fly over: he did not. We headed to the north road and found it forging in a field with cattle and Ibis.

Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor) - Sunnyvale WPCP, SCL (CA)
EQ: Nikon D7100, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 Taken: 6-20-2015 at 10:58
Settings: 450mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.0, ISO200, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

Common Crane (Grus grus) - Carson Lake, CHU (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 7-16-2021 at 8:40
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1250s, f/8.0, ISO400, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny

Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.

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