It wasn’t looking good tonight as we looked out on the snow covered marsh with the open water about 80% frozen.

But then the cranes started to trickle in.  Three pioneers held out alone on the ice for what seemed like forever.  The first several groups looked a bit undecided, but they continued to circle and land on the ice with the others. 

There were odd flight patterns that I’ve never seen before. Cranes came in from the west, then just as they approached Eagle lake they swung east, and then came in from the east.  Likely they were looking for another spot to land.  We also had lots of activity and landing near Eagle Lake and Ross reported a lot of ducks there as well.

Total crane count was 1600, with many more to the west and north not counted.

Crane counters:  Ross Green, Don Henise, Steve Jerant
Compiler:  Steve Jerant
Submitted by Steve Jerant

Species count:  18

View Haehnle eBird checklist at https://ebird.org/checklist/S122807479