At most natural areas/preserves, there’s a parking area somewhere on the periphery, and the interior’s accessed via a network of trails. Cochise Lake is somewhat unusual in having a perimeter dirt road around the entire rim, including folks camping in trailers/RV’s (e.g., for camping/birding) wherever there’s a well-placed wide spot. The birds don’t seem to mind.
As mentioned last post, not the right time for major Sandhill Crane migratory activity. Still, great to see a few late arrivals, like these coming in for a landing:
Really amazing how high the cranes fly, followed by extended ‘parachuting in‘ for landing.
Plumage was rather drab (winter/non-breeding), but still great to see these beautiful Chestnut-collared Longspurs:
Saying goodbye to Cochise Lake w/ a final sequence of landing Sandhill Crane:
