looking for Sandhill Cranes at Carlos Avery

Les picked me up at 6:30 a.m. sharp. I had barely managed to wake up with a half-cup of French roast coffee.
The sun was peeking between the clouds and the temperature was in the 40s as we arrived at Carlos Avery a little before 7.
We picked up maps at the entrance to Carlos Avery Headquarters at the north end of Zodiac Street off West Broadway/Co. Rd. 18.

Our main goal was to find Sandhill Cranes and get close enough for some good pictures. We headed east & then north to Pools 10 & 9. Very soon we were greeted by this assembly of Wood Ducks.