Sandhill Cranes fly across a moonlit sky traveling to their nightly roost on the Platte River in Central Nebraska. Copyright 2017 Susan Rissi Tregoning | SusanTregoning.com

Sandhill Cranes fly across a moonlit sky traveling to their nightly roost
on the Platte River in Central Nebraska.

Sometimes what's going on behind the scenes is just as good as the image created.

Sometimes what's going on behind the scenes is just as good as the image created....


Saturday night, my husband and I stood on the banks of the Platte River with a group of people, watching the Sandhill Cranes come in to roost for the night. The moon was just a sliver from being full, but the cloud cover was so heavy that it was pitch black most of the night.


I heard splashes in the water not far from where we were standing, but I didn’t think much about it since I was focused on the sky as the Sandhill Cranes flew overhead. The cranes were making quite a racket!


Suddenly, out of the blue, my husband develops Tourette’s and yells, “HOLY SHIT!”


I cringed, not knowing anyone in our group; I hoped the cranes had drowned that out. We had been given a talk about no sudden movements and to stay low and quiet, so we didn’t startle the flock when we first arrived for the evening. And now my husband is yelling obscenities at the top of his lungs!


I looked over at Paul and could barely make out a large black blob about 3 feet from him, but it was too dark for me to identify it.


It was a beaver! 


Paul told me later that when the curse words rolled, that beaver was sitting on his foot!


Beavers are notorious for having poor eyesight. I imagine we were all rather tree-like in our stillness and, I’m sure, just as black to him in the darkness as he was to us. Paul said he stared at him for what seemed like forever before the beaver slipped back into the water and swam off.


Always the overactive imagination, I had visions of the beaver gnawing off his leg and swimming off with it to build a new dam. LOL


To learn more about Nebraska's Sandhill Cranes season, check out my post about the Spring Migration of the Sandhill Cranes.

Susan's images are available for purchase as fine art prints and wall art, as well as on home decor, gift items, and apparel from her Image Gallery.

Three Sandhill Cranes fly across a deep blue twilight sky with a full moon glowing behind thin clouds. The birds are silhouetted against the moonlight, their wings outstretched in graceful motion. The scene captures the quiet beauty and mystery of migration under moonlight, evoking calm and wonder in a cozy living room setting.

“Moonlit Flight” — Three cranes glide across a deep blue twilight sky as the full moon rises behind them. This fine‑art photograph captures the stillness and mystery of migration after dark, creating a striking focal point for any room. Perfect for collectors who love dramatic skies, wildlife silhouettes, and elegant, nature‑inspired décor.


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