Another Tuesday morning run……with something a little different

This morning I was out the door bright and early for my run.  It was about 15 minutes before many of the other runs of late, so it was still fairly dark outside, about a half an hour before sunrise.  The birds were awake and singing their welcome to the new morning.  Their songs were beautiful, and almost deafening.  It was as if they were all trying to out-sing each other.  I saw many robin redbreasts along my route……many of them in the street, scurrying or flying off as I approached.  I could pick out the soft cooing of the morning dove and the loud cackle of the blue jay.  I’m sure there were numerous others in the mix, but I only know a few by sound.  I also saw a couple of cotton tail bunny rabbits hopping through the neighborhood yards.  The sky was clear but I was not able to see any stars at that time.  I did see the planet Venus in the Eastern sky…..it was almost sparkling it was so bright. 

An excellent morning for a run…..but I did encounter the strangest thing I have seen to date running in the early morning hours…..and I have seen a few.  Several years back, I witnessed a large fireball in the night sky which I later found out was a satellite entering the Earth’s atmosphere.  It was amazing and frightening all at the same time.  I have seen many falling stars, even witnessed the Persied meteor showers a few times.  There have been owls with their eerie “whos” in the quiet morning, and critters that frightened me.  But in my ten years of running, I have never witnessed what I saw today…….a Rooster Duck.  I kid you not……..this mallard duck was standing on the roof peak of a house, facing east and quacking his head off as the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon.  It reminded me of the movie, “Babe“, about the talking pig that wanted to be a sheepdog.  My daughters loved that movie, especially the pig’s friend, a duck who tried to crow the farm awake each morning.   Perhaps my Rooster Duck had seen the movie?  I hope Rooster Duck is a permanent resident in our neighborhood….he certainly made me smile this morning!