With the Sandhill Cranes in full migration mode, how about some Sandhill Cranes against the sun? These are Sandhill Cranes captured in southern Wisconsin as they were gathering and flying on their journey this fall, and the hazy, dusty, smoky sunset is from the same location taken in the summer . . .

Back in July there was the right atmospheric mix of smoke, dust and haze to that allowed for an unfiltered capture of our orange setting sun. Although ~ 93 million miles away, it appeared as though it was just over there, a beautiful sight . . .

Two Short-eared Owls battle it out while the sun sinks into the Illinois prairie . . .

The average distance from the earth to the sun is ~ 93 million miles, but it sure doesn't seem that far when it sets big and orange and red through the smoke and the haze. For the last month or so, the smoke from the western fires . . .

Sandhill Cranes fly to the southwest as the sun sinks into the horizon on the last day of summer 2020. The smoke from distant fires continues to create conditions for brilliant sunsets here in northern Illinois as well as for many other locales. Autumn starts around 8:30 am (central time) on Tuesday, September 22nd, and so it begins.