As happened once before, reader Lorraine sent in some photos taken by her friend Doug Hayes, who allowed them to be posted here. One batch included DUCKS. Lorraine’s commentary:
My friend Doug Hayes has taken more photos of the local wildlife. Since you’re missing your ducks, I’m attaching his photos of a duck bathing at Forest Hill Park in Richmond, VA last month. He’s got many more images but these give you the idea.
Here are some more photographs taken at Forest Hill Park in Richmond, VA. There are two of ducks, two of herons and one of a squirrel.
Beautiful photos ! This is the reflection of nature’s beauty and wildlife gives heavenly pleasure to our minds.
Nice pictures! Thank you, and thank you to your friend for sharing. I very much like the lighting amongst the ducks.
Like the high speed photos of water splashes and waves produced by birds.
I, too, like the images of ducks splashing water . . . but I have a question: if I’m a duck, why don’t I just dive under water & wiggle down under? Inquiring minds want to know!
As far as I know all birds bath in a similar way. Our parakeet used to bath in a dish by leaning it’s breast forward and twisting and fluffing rapidly. Water flew up in all directions and some landed on his back which was his intent. Mallards have, I suspect, inherited the same trait from an early common ancestor of all birds(believe me?).
Mallards are dabbling ducks, meaning they occupy the water’s surface zone. Other ducks are divers which swim underwater. Diving ducks preen their wet feathers. I’m not sure if they do much twisting and fluffing.
Wonderful animals!
Heron in the snow, that’s a first for me… I like it, one tough bird.