“Though the walk into the lake may be familiar,

It is never the same.” 

Norbert Blei, a Door County author, penned this line in his book, Meditations on a Small Lake.  He could have been writing about the Horicon Marsh.  The clouds have changed from patterned puffs to watercolor wisps as autumn is fading into winter.  The auto tour and other areas are closed unless we are wearing blaze orange due to deer hunting season.

Green-winged Teal

Green-winged Teal rest before heading further south.  Some will spend their winter in the Caribbean, which sounds like a great idea.

Female Ruddy Duck

This female Ruddy Duck was either camera shy or very hungry.  She frequently dove beneath the surface of the water.  It was a challenge to find her when she resurfaced.  Ruddy Ducks tend to migrate east or west to the coasts.

Adult and Juvenile Sandhill Cranes

Large flocks of Sandhill Cranes found tasty treats in fields where farmers recently harvested their corn.  Juvenile Sandhill Cranes lack the red patch on their head.  They have small brown patches on their sides.  Iron stained feathers are only present on the adults.

Sandhill Cranes

It was a peaceful evening and I would have stayed out longer but it was getting too dark to shoot (with my camera).  There is comfort in the familiarity and excitement in seeing nature change.