Ride 5 - Go North... and East

Two sand hill cranes leave the trail. 5/9/26 dwm

 While sand hill cranes are a common bird in Wisconsin, and much of the United States, they aren't rare, but still a treat to see up close.

 

 I was 13 miles into the ride when I saw five cranes on the Capital City State Rail. I stopped, grabbed the camera, and took several photos. I don't usually carry my long lens on the bike, so it's difficult getting a great shot.

 

 The cranes are easy to see with their dark feathers standing out against a grassy background.

 

Not far from there, but on the return trip, I saw a bird I had never seen.

Wikipedia photo of American Woodcock.

I was only a few feet away as I rode past and noted an orange tinge to its belly and a long, narrow beak. When I got home and looked it up online, I learned it is an American Woodcock. It can be found in the eastern United States (draw a line through Minnesota south to Louisiana).

 

Their usual habitat is a brushy, young-forest; which is where I saw it. 

My destination for the ride was Sun Prairie but when I reached thirty-miles and was still five miles from downtown; it made sense to save some miles for next time.

A portion of the Capital City Trail. 5/9/26 dwm

 Much of the first part of the ride was a breeze with a good pace while making good time. It wasn't until turning around that I realized there was a steady tailwind on the way out and in my face on the way home. 

 Clouds kept the temperature in the 50s early, which isn't bad, but it was a touch on the cool side. When the sun came out and warmed it into the upper 60s, the day was just about perfect.

 

 According to the Bike Computer:

 Distance: 60 miles Ave speed: 15.1 mph

 Time in the saddle: 3 hours, 57 minutes