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An evening tornadic thunderstorm had just rolled through the Madison area creating some very unusual lighting, so I thought I better pay a visit to the V-Pond after work. Shorebirds were extremely scarce, but there were a few SANDHILL CRANES relaxing in the calm water. The setting sun's rays were liberated by a few gaps in the clouds in the west, creating an almost fiery glow on the crane's body as it slept. A foraging lesser yellowlegs sauntered through the scene...just on its way somewhere. Though the storm was miles away, the rumbling of distant thunder created a comforting mood that this picture will never capture.
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Sandhill Crane and Storm images © 2005 Michael Allen McDowell