As in March 2007 one of the over riding highlights of my trip was the huge numbers of Sandhll Cranes present at La Merced. In the evening thousands gather on the fields on the east side of the reserve to feed and roost overnight on the floods. In the morning may hundreds can be seen leaving their roosts with lots and lots of these flying overhead at the first first sharp left hand bend in the auto route. Again morning birds feed on the same fields close to the car on the east side but many disperse across the whole areas. Simply spectacular.
As can be seen below some of the fly by's are really close.
California - November 2009
Cranes & Coots
Sandhill Crane
American Coot
Often very common and widespread American Coot virtually didn't get a second look. From an identification perspective for British Birders note the broken bill band, the dark spot in the forehead shield and the white under-tail coverts.