Wednesday Walk - Amazing Nature Around the Pond

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I've been visiting a couple of ponds down the road on my walks where I like checking on the duck and geese families.

I had noticed that the Bufflehead Duck had kept her ducklings close and they were actually resting on the water.

Momma Bufflehead Duck Resting With Her Ducklings on the Water

Momma Bufflehead duck with her ducklings closely grouped resting in the water.JPG

For waterfowl the water is where they find safety from predators looking for a meal.

I had wondered why the pair of Barrow's Golden-eye ducks never had ducklings with them even though it is getting later in the season.

Pair of Barrow's Golden-eye Ducks (no ducklings) Swimming by Bufflehead Duck with Ducklings Resting

pair of golden eye ducks swimming by resting bufflehead duck and ducklings.JPG

I think I know why, even though there was a pair of ducks who had been nesting by the pond for quite some time, they never had ducklings.

Look what I saw coming out of the bush surrounding the pond -

Young Coyote Coming Out From Area By Pond

back end of coyote running through field.JPG

Close Up of Young Coyote Looking at Me

Close up Coyote by young spruce trees looking at me.JPG

Once the coyote spotted me where I was downwind behind some bush he took off across the field.

Coyote Noticing Me As He Crosses the Road

young coyote crossing road looking at me.JPG

close up of coyote looking at me.JPG

Off Goes the Coyote Across the Field

Close up Coyote running through field looking at me.JPG

Over at another pond I saw the geese with their goslings resting on the shore.

Canada Geese and Goslings Resting on the Shore of Pond

geese and goslings lying down on shore.JPG

The male was very observant and once he spotted me he alerted the rest of the family who perked up checking around.

Geese and Goslings Alerted Checking Around

geese and goslings lying down on shore notice and look at me.JPG

It wasn't long before the male scurried his family off to the water where they are safer.

Family of Canada Geese Scurrying to Water

family of geese with older goslings looking at me from distant shore.JPG

Family of Geese Safely in the Water

family of geese taking goslings in the safety of the water.JPG

Even though the male goose had his family safely in the water he continued to steer them away from the open water to a more sheltered area behind some bush.

Close Up of Canada Geese and Goslings Swimming Towards Bush

family of geese swimming in pond older goslings.JPG

Male Canada Goose Gives Me One Last Look Before Heading Out of Sight

family of geese swimming older goslings male looking at me.JPG

The geese are amazingly alert to any changes in their environment. I used my zoom lens to get these photos and I must have been 300 yards away or so. I couldn't see them properly with the naked eye plus I was standing still but on an open road.

There were another pair of ducks on the first pond that I later identified as the ruddy duck. A beautiful duck which can be aggressive toward other birds especially during breeding season. I first noticed them when I was getting closer to see the ducklings on the pond and I heard this funny wack, wack, quack sound. I didn't see the duck at first but kept hearing this sound. Finally I saw a different color duck, zoomed in and saw this colorful male ruddy duck beating his beak against his chest making a splash on the water then a funny quack sound (others have described it as a belch) which I caught on video - see below...

Ruddy Duck Male Performing Courtship Displays(see video below for the full display)

ruddy duck splashing beak in water.JPG

More of the ruddy duck...

Close Up Male Ruddy Duck Stretching It's Wings

ruddy duck in the pond stretching wings.JPG

Close Up Male Ruddy Duck Stretching It's Wings Back View

close up male ruddy duck wings wide open stretching them.JPG

Close Up of Male Ruddy Duck in Water Scratching It's Head

close up ruddy duck scratching his head with foot.JPG

After awhile I noticed the female ruddy duck. She didn't stay long and was busy diving under the water, I imagine to feed. I did get a couple of shots.

Male and Female Ruddy Duck

male and female ruddy duck pair.JPG

Close Up Female Ruddy Duck

close up female ruddy duck.JPG

Nature can be so fascinating! I hope you enjoyed joining me for this visit to the pond!

This is my #WednesdayWalk hosted by @tattoodjay. He collaborates with @elizacheng and her #MakeMeSmile initiative see her latest post here

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Also my Amazing Nature Contest July 2020 #1 entry. See details here

Bird images are for the #FeatheredFriends community hosted by @melinda010100

The photos were taken with my Canon PowerShot SX60 HS.

Thanks for stopping by!


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14 comments
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Cool looking blue bill on the ruddy duck. I bet that coyote was looking for a goose meal. Looks fairly well fed.

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When you see the coyote in the grass he looked well fed but seeing him on the road he looked pretty thin - it is a constant struggle for them finding food - glad I don't have to live like that! He looked pretty young though for his face wasn't fully filled out.

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I have picked your post for my daily hive voting initiative, Keep it up and Hive On!!

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Thanks for choosing my post for your upvote!

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Amazing what you see around ponds and lakes and you got a great selection of animals nice to see 👍

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Love how you put you WALK and post... the ducks and goose family... how you "interact" with them...
!BEER

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The coyote photos are really nice!

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Goose is capable of looking after itself, seeing coyote so close most probably hunting out nests or young straying I would imagine.

Magnificent bird life on the pond, that blue on the duck sure stands out!

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I was surprised at the color of the ruddy ducks beak. I wasn't to sure what type of duck it was at first for I had never seen one before. Thanks to Google Images I found out it was a Ruddy duck.

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You definitely won't forget the look nor the name of this one now, sure does stand out as something completely different. Have an awesome weekend.

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That Coyote looks really cool. He just never stops looking at you ^^

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Yes! I was fortunate that I was behind some bush and downwind when he came out of the bush plus I had my camera ready for I was taking photos of the ducks! You usually don't see them so much in the daytime.

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