Prettier than a picture.
It was beautiful and warm today, so when Katie and I started out for our early afternoon walk, I decided to go to the Visitor's Center, then keep walking in a direction we haven't been yet.
I talked to a Ranger at the center and explained what happened with the American Coot, and he said that happens often, and whatever it was in his mouth will eventually come out. He said they often see birds with fishing line coming out of their mouths. So I felt good about the Coot's prognosis.
We kept walking along, over the lawns in the Day Use Area along a river (or creek ?), and then I heard a loud noise, a dog barking, something like that. It sounded like something was causing a big flock of ducks to quack and swim up river toward us. I could see them coming, swimming and quacking frantically. I wondered what it was that was making that loud noise, and scaring them, or chasing them.
So... they all come out of the water running toward us. Then, from behind us coming down the lawn was - Ta Da! UPS MAN with his arms loaded with four large plastic bags. Full. Of. Bread.
Yeaaaaa, the UPS Man is here!
The UPS Man said when the ducks hear his truck, they start swimming and running toward shore. By the time he parks, they are all on the shore waiting. If he stays in his truck too long, they run over the lawn and wait outside his truck door. You gotta love it!
He has been coming to feed the ducks for a long time now. He said the loud barking sound was one of the females, either one of the ducks or the female swan. He knew quite a bit about these birds.
He said the female goose mothers the goslings of the Canada Geese that fly in annually to have their babies. She will mother them, guard them, and keep predators away. Then the Canada Geese fly away, and she and her mate stay here.
These geese are beautiful. I've only seen white geese before.
The grey and white duck in the front, below, was left here by someone, and when the UPS Man first saw him, he could hardly walk, he has a bad leg. He can't fly, but can make it to the water if he needs to by using his wings. He doesn't waddle like the other ducks, but walks tall and upright. He immediately stood out when they came barreling onto shore because when they all walked, he was walking differently than the rest.
This little guy walked like a Penguin.
This cute little white duck has a tuft of feathers on it's head.
This was a pretty duck, I liked it's colors.
After their treats, they went back to their day:
The bird shots aren't very colorful because I had the camera on the black and white setting, highlighting a yellow-green color for a previous shot of a flower. Unfortunately, the ducks look colorless except their beaks, and also the green grass was picked up. Usually I check my settings, but this time I was caught off guard when all the excitement started. :(
And finally, this boat caught my attention and I wanted to get a picture of it.. You can see it from the RV Park.
Dry Dock
From Me and My Dog, have a great Friday, everyone! :)
