I picked a header image featuring their feathery backsides, but … this was the only close-up photo of Mom with her entire brood and the one gosling flapping its wings just gives me a smile.
(“Hey Mom – how about some flying lessons too?”)
The first glimpses of goslings at the Park come Spring is always such a joy for me. It’s not like the later families of Canada Geese, that share the perimeter path with us walkers over the next six weeks, will become old hat, but, believe me when I tell you I’m not the only one with a camera or phone snapping pictures while oohing and aahing over these fuzzy, feathered friends.
I got to the Park on Wednesday morning, happy that we did not get the anticipated rain, but instead had sunshine (yeah) and I was even happier when fellow walker Mike came over to tell me that he’d seen goslings along the path and gave me the family’s location. I told Mike I’d been down to Dingell Park to visit Mama Duck and he said he’d been there the day before and she was off the nest and strolling around the pavilion and he went to see if the ducklings had hatched and saw eight eggs … so, it’s not soup yet folks, as that old Lipton commercial goes.
I thanked Mike and headed yonder to where the park bench is just a few yards from the entrance to the water … there is a big tree nearby and the parents like to bring their offspring to graze, then go for a dip. I wanted a glimpse of the goslings to include their photos in a post close to Mother’s Day. Would I make it to the other side of the Park before they disappeared into the bushes or swam away? To get there timely, I cut across the grass, bypassing my usual steps on the perimeter path, and, of course completely forgetting two major things, i.e. 1) the primary reason why I go to the Park (to walk); and 2) the squirrels, who didn’t see me as I streaked past the usual “feeding spots” enroute to my destination. That was a big faux pas because I arrived at this corner, saw the parents and their offspring and while pulling the camera out of my zippered vest underneath my coat (yup, another cold morning), out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a trio of squirrels had gathered at my feet and were looking up at me. I was unable to tell if they wore a mystified look (as in “did you forget about us?), or an angry look (“wait a minute – the geese are more important than we are?”). Yikes – what was I thinking?! Quickly, I made my apologies, tossed down some peanuts and got ready to capture some cute shots.
I’m just going to caption the pictures below as there are so many, and admittedly, they are not the best photos. You never want to get too close to them, especially with the gander, ever-protective of his little family, and he will indeed hiss, flap his wings, or worse yet … charge at you if he deems you a threat to his goslings. I always stay a respectful distance away whether they are newborns or almost ready to fledge and depart the Park.
Good thing I arrived when I did because they did not graze long, then headed down to the water. The water level in this area is so high, Mama Goose merely walked right into the Creek with their little ones in tow, and Papa bringing up the rear. There were some hurried swimming lessons, and off they went, gliding down the middle of the Creek. The family didn’t go far because they veered off to the left near a dock at a residence across the Creek and toddled off into the homeowner’s backyard.
Please enjoy this dose of cuteness.
They have been tucked away somewhere because they were not all that tiny.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
Aw….I LOVE this, they are so adorable, I’m so happy you had a nice day and that you got photos too! 🙂
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Glad you liked them Shelley – these little bundles of fluff were cute and I wonder where their parents have kept them hidden as they sure haven’t recently hatched. 🙂
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Yes, they definitely look like they’ve been waddling around the block a time or two ;-)!
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I like your photos. I especially like the one featuring the south ends of northbound geese. 😊
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Thanks Ally – that was my favorite picture too. I wanted to pick up and cuddle that gosling that had his wings up in the air. 🙂
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Awww…cuteness overload is right! Glad to read that you did not forget about your furry friends too. I am sure the squirrels were appreciative of the handful of peanuts you gave them before you took photos of the cute little goslings. I bet you were happy that the forecasted rain did not show up!
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Glad you liked them Laurie. I just told Shelley that in another month, those same goslings will be almost as big as their parents, turning gray and black and having a whole lot of attitude. They grow up so fast, it is amazing. I wonder how old these goslings are as they sure aren’t newly hatched. I hightailed it from the start of the walking path and crossed over on the grass to see the goslings I usually just wait to see them on the path, but wanted some photos of them since we’re so close to Mother’s Day. The squirrels were probably stationed all the way along the path and so they chased after me thinking I forgot them. More joined me while I was standing there. I was happy it was dry too and I got out this morning too, but barely got back and it began raining and has been nonstop with a robust thunderstorm (or two) later tonight. I did this post early this morning due to tonight’s storm. I hope your rain has finally gone away.
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You are like the Pied Piper of squirrels, Linda! I can just picture them following after you. Be careful when following those goslings. Sometimes the parents can get downright nasty if they think their youngsters are being threatened.
It is cold and damp here, but not rainy. I am hoping to get a little yardwork done before we pick up my grandsons at school tomorrow at noon.
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Laurie – I have, on occasion, had a passel of them following me and I felt like the Pied Piper. I wish I could get a picture of that because it is very cute and the other walkers always smile and laugh when they see it. They are shameless sometimes. 🙂 You did a great job on your mulch – a huge pile and I see you put a lot out front and it looks nice. (Until the elm seeds fly and grow tiny weeds in between the mulch.) You can have the weekend off then – good luck getting it done in the morning. We are still very cold here – only the low 50s. We are still expecting a storm and rain Sunday and Monday.
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Gotta love babies!
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Who can resist something little and cute and fuzzy?
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Precious goslings! It’s always fun to watch them follow their mom about.
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I know – I love seeing them at the Park, and even though they were not facing me, the picture up top, all those fuzzy little darlings and the one with outstretched wings, just makes me smile. A couple of them were running to catch up as they had stayed behind to graze and their Mom got too far ahead – boy could they run with those wide webbed feet! 🙂
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Miss Linda………………………………she is the first to have her little ones hatch for the season…………………thank you…………………yes I do love watching them and yes I stay clear of them because daddy is near………………………………at our pond someone called the Goose Busters who came in a van and took the eggs out of their nests…………………………..around April 13……………………very early in the morning when it was raining out………………………..since then both sets of mama geese are back on their new nests………………………………since the first of May……………..
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Why did they take those eggs Ann Marie – that’s odd. I hope you see the new goslings when they hatch then. I’ve never seen the geese on their nests and I have been looking for goslings for two weeks (just from the path); these were fairly big so the parents might have been moving them around during the day and I’ve missed some trips to the Park and walked in the neighborhood instead due to this incessant rain. Is Mr. Meany back at the pond?
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Aren’t they adorable! I was watching them all day yesterday. My client and I visited 5 parks! Very nice post and wonderful pictures!
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I am envious Diane – five parks! Do your clients like them? I have done multiple parks on a weekend and it is so nice … you feel like you had a mini vacation. This is the first family and we usually get three families every year. I don’t think they were all that young though – they had them well hidden or they were out during the daytime.
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My autistic client just looks and doesn’t express emotion but I think so. My other client is the same way, I say look at the cute (whatever we see) and she just says I see. I want to believe they enjoy it because they never say no to going.
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That is too bad Diane. At least you are able to enjoy this little glimpse of Mother Nature at her finest.
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I think she enjoys it she just can’t express it.
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I am sure she is very very touched.
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This was such a life-filled post. I actually grabbed a photo of a new family – but it is from a distance and well – makes me appreciate the fun photo shoot you have – my fab picture is the “breakfast is over” and laughing at the opening flying lessons request – 😉
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I had to get these quickly as they were on the move right after I arrived and that gander was very close to the path. In fact a walker went past him and didn’t pay him attention but the gander hissed and flapped his wings at this guy, but not at me who was essentially just as close. I like that picture of the gosling flapping his tiny wings … it’s difficult to get the whole group together in one shot. I came home with a big smile on my face.
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I can see why you had a smile – seems like they liked your energy too
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They do help start your day off on the right foot and with a smile.
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Your Canada’s are ahead of ours which are sitting on nests at this time.
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I have never seen our geese sitting on the nests and they hid these goslings pretty well as they were so big already. I’ve seen goslings out and about that were more the size of ducklings. I wanted to get to Heritage Park soon as there are ducklings there (a photographer posts on their Facebook page and mentioned them) but they have been so flooded, even the pond is past the seawall – all our parks are like that right now due to all the flooding. The ducklings will be all grown up by the time I get there for pictures. I’ve never seen ducklings at this Park – we don’t have that many mallards here and there are too much brush and reeds along Creek banks.
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you captured this “parade” of life very well Linda!
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Glad you liked the “parade” Wayne – I had to share them with you as I knew you’d appreciate them. There will be more – we generally have three families each year at this Park so lots of chances for photo ops. These are the early birds (pardon the pun).
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and who doesn’t love a parade eh! Baby animals are almost always cutie pies!
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Yes, they are always sweet. At one point, the parents were headed to the water and two of the goslings were lagging behind. One of the parents looked back and the two goslings ran quickly to catch up, their webbed feet going fast and their bodies wiggling as were running. That I did not get a photo of. I was really enjoying them.
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I think to really get the joy out of them doing that wiggling thing,you’d best shoot them with video. I bet your camera can shoot video but to make it viewable you’ll need a tripod. Do you have one and do you know how to shoot video?
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I do have a small tripod that came with my first compact digital camera. I did not get the monopod you suggested yet. I was thinking that rather than re-formatting the card, I would just get another card and pop that in for the videos and keep it just for videos. I am ashamed to say I still have not sat down and read the book for either camera. The digital compact I’ve learned on the fly but it does have video capabilities. Our weather has been so abysmal … I wish I had the bigger camera for the gosling shots Wednesday but I never take it during the week.
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PET
Place
Equipment
Time
Your at the right place,at the right time but do not have the right equipment. So you missed a opportunity. Put your gear in a bigger bag and keep it in the car trunk. So that If you ever need it you can go get it. Nothing worse than losing a great opportunity!
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Well I dropped the ball Wednesday as I drove to the Park. All this damp weather and I worry if I don’t drive the car enough and didn’t think I should wait until the weekend. I don’t like carrying the bag to the Park. I also should have taken it last Sunday as I drove there then as well. I wanted to go to the other nearby parks, so should have taken it there as well. Yes I missed an opportunity with the groundhog head – could have had that head even closer.
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it all depends how serious you are and how much your willing to put into it?
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I hope you can see this link. If not on Facebook search for the first story on “Huron-Clinton Metroparks” It is not a closed group. It is a Sand Hill Crane that has adopted a gosling and for now raising it with her own offspring. Now these are wonderful and up-close photos:
https://www.facebook.com/HCMetroparks/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARBC4qRk9vvmUa7y-Mvr_t4u8QMcpCu3RsrdsmQTRdp_yoFIWv5r83ZitYaJ9toGFh4G25XY-TJ30-nz&hc_ref=ARS91xaoLgThd5MDC5B_N77mvYJWoQa9R5pIW8dzRo8oCbvQ1htiEDUQwQWc2fau83g&fref=nf&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDKz1ZiPFZutolUzUzwZEHB4-Vhhkxs_Bc5cu6cMVhJ87CPqlK8pwcxwUXcUMTTIg6e4k1j7eVda_wOldz0GKGFEJ7FHJpQvURcTDI5_DgFHma_wuCEMDDPSFoz55HXJzRQ4orbUygQpo5mztZ5g60ustoLRNGkX5BgDAZDl0vYTaSR_Eap3nROvL-d4lj4zR_t9yZKAkTVq3LG2ye38l3qyC7IlmpVEFZ-cYAQy6Q1hh6Bc9jXq8m_p4XcZSfVfCl47LmzLPLL9PBHJZ2PD4U78HC9QbBlvwCq5JMXhvkGptnClYflS3uBDwa17RfnCTXh0gAt41qMF92HXrfbVWGC9yFw4wMrgyr0PkLgfsZwXw
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that is a first for me…..cross species adoption! I think I’ll send this onto a birding friend.
thanks!
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You’re welcome – glad you could access it. I originally saw a a Tweet from Metropark, so thought to look on Facebook and found more pics there. That’s a heartwarming story and great photos. I was reading the comments below about whether it will return to a goose family or not.
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You got some great shots Linda. They are sooooo cute. 🙂
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I knew you’d get a kick out of those cute little fluffballs Ruth.
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Those goslings are just too cute! Those parents must be so proud and delighted! 🙂
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Glad you liked these cuties Tom – the parents never let them out of their sight. I was especially partial to the little guy who was trying to flap his wings. 🙂
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That was just too cute for words!
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Glad you liked it – they are the cutest little fuzzballs.
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Linda – Could I love this post any more? I think not! xo kim
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That comment made my day Kim! I wanted to scoop up that gosling with the little wings and bring him home with me. 🙂
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They are so adorable! 🙂
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Glad you liked them Daisy Dust – they looked so cute and cuddly … little fuzzballs. Give them a few weeks and they get to the “awkward stage” … like us when we were teens and all arms and legs. Their bodies then will look like boats, and they have long legs … I remember those days too.
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Super cute! You lucky duck, Linda, seeing this family out and about!
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They were so adorable Sabine. I watched the family walking down to the Creek to go swimming and my heart almost melted. We will likely have another set or two before mid-June. We had three sets of goslings at different times from May through June last year.
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You are very lucky to witness these ducklings and goslings grow up! 💖
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They grow up quickly and I understand there are ducklings and goslings at Heritage Park so I hope to get there this weekend. Youngsters are always fascinating to watch.
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Yes they are a lot of fun!
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Aww what a sweet post!! Especially right around Mother’s Day. I saw a little goose squad when we were in Angel Island- adorable to watch. The little ducklings are just precious. I don’t think I told you this story yet.. but about a week ago a group of geese almost stepped right into my path while I was running. I jumped because I didn’t see them stepping out of the bushes! I have no idea why they were in the suburb area where I was running because there was no water around!
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Glad you liked this post Mackenzie. Now that is odd having those geese just run out like that. When I was at the 5K the other morning, the sun was pretty strong, and even though my lenses get dark, I didn’t see a long-haired dachshund and nearly fell over it. It was so short and it was right at my feet at the beginning of the race. I said “well excuse me” to the dog and owner. Its fur was dark, but still – who stumbles over a dog?
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LOL, I’m glad you didn’t fall though!! Dachshunds are so tiny, see why it’d be easy to miss. At least you had a reason to say excuse me– I’ve run into inanimate objects on runs and apologized before realizing it wasn’t a living thing hahah.
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Now that’s funny … but if the sun is in your eyes, you can’t always see and this little squirt was only up to my ankles. After that I looked down more than up, especially at the vendors’ stands or at the start line when everyone was excited to get going and the dogs felt the energy.
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❤ Oh I love this post so much ❤
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They were so fuzzy and sweet Zena. Today I saw three families and took pictures – I hope they came out because the goslings have grown so much in one week. They are tall and skinny looking now. The third family had very small goslings, maybe as small as the ones in this picture. The miracle of nature is incredible.
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