Got Up Early This Morning

This morning I got up early.  I had to be at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge by 6:30 a.m.  I met some friends there.  About 30 people carpooled to a spot about 5 miles away.  We parked in a field and stood outside waiting for the sun to rise.  As the light increased, we could see fog in the distance across the prairie.  An orange glow shimmered through a stand of bare oak trees to our left.  We stood and watched as the day began.  A robin flew across.  Three crows chased an immature eagle.  Mallard ducks formed big "C's" in the sky.  And then another bird flew by.  This is what we were waiting for.  This bird flew effortlessly with a graceful and stylish flick at each upward stroke; a sandhill crane.  Camera shutters whirred and clicked.  Flocks of birds flew right toward us until they could see us standing there and veered off to the right or to the left.  More ducks flew by.  A noise behind us drew our attention.  Grackles were chattering and moving behind a barn, across the road and into the woods.   They looked like a black river in the sky.  We could hear gun shots to our left.  As the sun rose above the horizon, the cranes were illuminated from below.  Some cranes were so close we could see their little black feet stretched back.  Many of the cranes were silent.  Some cranes made their typical pterodactyl sounds.  Young cranes made an awkward peeping noise.  As we stood for an hour and a half we saw at least 300 cranes, 200 ducks, 50 geese, 2 trumpeter swans, one eagle, one robin, 3 crows, 8 cedar waxwings, and a bazillion grackles.  I hope some of my photos turn out.  Birdwatching with others, a great way to start a day.