Tag: springtime

It’s Springtime Again

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The arrival of the mallards has become the first sign of spring at the pond – well, ever since the first year I lived here when a beaver kicked off the season, slicing through the frigid water and sounding the alert at my passing by slapping his tail on the water, resulting in a crack that cut through the air and ricocheted off surrounding trees like a gunshot.

I have no idea where the mallards spent the winter, but they look relaxed, and comfortably at home – happy in fact – as they glide through the barely thawed water.

I share two similar photos which display the color and markings of this waterfowl. The male, in the foreground, has a shiny green head and neck that sometimes looks deep purple. The slightly smaller female has duller colors but she is no less striking with her markings, especially her eye markings, which make me think of Cleopatra’s.

The photo above is a favorite of mine because it shows the typical setting of the mallards – close to the shore and somewhat sheltered. From another angle, below, they are observed eating – what, I don’t know. They submerge their whole head underwater and forage around, coming up for air infrequently. The female especially spends lots of time in this activity. I’m not sure of the mating season, but watching her, I had the sense she might be satisfying a craving!

Yesterday, as the sun set, they took off. Here are their silhouettes against the early evening sky.

Love Is In Bloom

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Along with the blossoming of buds, I have enjoyed observing the blossom of love in the waterbirds. Before the ice had melted from the pond, a pair of Mallards floated harmoniously in the chilly water. Soon after, the Canada Geese arrived. Side by side, the pairs of birds shared the warmth of the spring sun. (Click on these photos for enlargement and clearing viewing. Use the back-arrow to return to the post.)


One day, the most delightful two-some, Ring-necked Ducks (below), appeared. These petite birds sat low in the water and stayed close to each other’s side. Often they would take shelter under an overhang of evergreen branches at one end of the island. I have loved watching them and what I see as devotion to each other. As they are small waterbirds, they struck me as delicate and vulnerable. I perceived their physical closeness to be a protective instinct for each other.

If you wonder how it is that I am using the birds’ names in this post, it is that I have become intrigued by the waterbirds as well as the perching birds in and around the pond. My curiosity about them has led me to purchase a pocket guide to help me differentiate these beautiful creatures.

While the other waterbirds were used to me and allowed me to get fairly close for photos, the Ring-necked Ducks were exceedingly timid and in smooth but determined motion, would paddle a distance from me if I approached their location while I walked the perimeter of the pond.

Last week, I began to see the male Mallard alone in the pond. I noticed that he would trail the Ring-necked Ducks. I supposed he was lonely. In the early evening the female Mallard would come by the pond and together they would go for a quick fly-over or a stroll on the shore. In this photo I imagined him to be Mr. Darcy to her Miss Elizabeth Bennett – as he pursues her with determination, as she keeps a cautious distance. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

I think she has taken up residence across the street in a stream setting, perhaps tending to a nest. He chases her to the street but then flies back to the pond alone. Here, he buzzes just over my head in his return flight to the pond.

Each day now, as evening settles, the pairs dreamily float along. In this final shot, I will identify the waterbirds in the characters of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice – for the enjoyment of those of you who love her story of love and pairings as much as I. So, pictured here, I see Miss Jane Bennet and Mr. Bingley (the Ring-necked Ducks) in the lead, with lonely Mr. Darcy (the male Mallard) trailing next, looking about for Elizabeth. The Bennet parents and their in-laws, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner (Canada Geese pairs), follow as they keep the young love birds under their watchful eyes!