Peas sink

This week's theme is water. There is a lot of water at Wilderness Park, with two separate lakes. And where there is water, there are a lot of ducks and other birds that are beyond my ability to identify without a lot of googling.

I wrote last year about The care and feeding of birds, and how bread is like junk food to them. So when I knew I'd be at the park with a couple of small boys, I came prepared with one of the recommended food items—a bag of frozen peas.

Well, it seemed like a good idea. But there were several problems. First, peas sink. If you throw them into the water to the ducks, most of them sink out of sight before the ducks reach them. And if you scatter the peas on the sidewalk, the ducks won't get out of the water to get them.

But those other nameless birds will. So, we fed the birds—not the ducks—at the park. They ate the whole bag.

Except for the peas at the bottom of the lake.

Duck, duck, goose

I watched these ducks race across the lake in the same formation. The duck in the front kept dipping his head down in the water  and the other two kept an almost formal following.

"In matters of style. swim with the current; in matters of principal, stand like a rock." 
~ Thomas Jefferson

Duck tales...

I came home a few days ago to these two waddling around my yard. Now, I've had squirrels, possums, raccoons, and even a coyote run through my yard, but this was the first time for ducks.

"If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck....it's probably a duck."

After the rain...

Today was my last day in Northern California. It poured for most of the day so I was stuck inside.

But late this afternoon, the sun popped out from behind the clouds, the rain stopped and the afternoon was almost instantaneously beautiful. I couldn't resist a little adventure along the trail. The ducks were clearly ready to enjoy the sun too. It was a beautiful end to the day.

Bridging the gap

To wrap up my afternoon at Wilderness Park last weekend, here's one of my favorite views.

It's a favorite of many. During the warmer months, there are almost always photo shoots taking place here. But with last week's cold weather, the ducks and I had it all to ourselves.

The ugly duckling?

At the park last weekend (before our warmer weather returned—notice those jackets!), the geese held sway at one end of the park (see The goose takes a gander) and the ducks ruled at this end.

At least, they did until this guy appeared. I first noticed him looking all stately and quiet on the other side of the lake. But apparently the idea of all that bread being spread around was too tempting for him.

He landed with a splash in the middle of the ducks, where he stuck out like a sore thumb. Then he made a nuisance of himself trying to hoard all the treats.

A duck takes to water

I went for a walk around Wilderness Park the other day and I was reminded how pretty it can be in the mornings. Unfortunately for the ducks, I disturbed their early morning siesta. They did not want me to be as close as I wanted to be. It was clear I had entered their "space", so they took to the water. 

Big man on campus

While Pam and Joan take pictures of the ducks, I am somehow always drawn to the larger swimming birds. A little more threatening I think. This one is probably three times as big as the ducks in the water and seems to dominate the scene when he is around.

To catch a fish...

Fishing is boring, unless you catch an actual fish, and then it is disgusting. ~Dave Barry

If you look closely, you will see a hook and part of a fishing line in the duck's mouth. I'm not sure what he was doing with it, but it was a funny sight to me.

"With a quack quack here and a quack quack there..."

Today I planned to go to the "other" riverbed in Downey to take my daily photo. I live in between the Rio Hondo and the San Gabriel riverbeds and since I've taken several photos of Rio Hondo and the area (actually renaming it Downey River Walk), I figured it was time to do justice to the bigger San Gabriel riverbed. Until I saw the ducks. . . these guys needed to be noticed. They hang out at Wilderness Park, which is right along the San Gabriel river bed. So, for now the ducks will represent the "area" of the San Gabriel.