We’re in the midst of a wicked heat wave – throughout the holiday weekend, temps sizzled like a firecracker. I hope we don’t need a whopper storm to break the heat.
I visited Lake Erie Metropark a couple of weekends ago and while meandering through the marsh and across a wooden overlook, I heard a lot of splishing and splashing. But, it wasn’t these Mallards. It was a pair of good-sized carp chasing one another. I hung around for a while, hoping for a photo op as they played tag – it is spawning season, but they weren’t in the mood for posing I guess.
Now, while I was disappointed I never got any shots of the carp, from my vantage point I was lucky enough to see this group of playful Mallards, all with brown plumage. What I couldn’t figure out, however, was if the showoff above was Mama and the other slightly smaller ducks were her nearly grown offspring? Then again, perhaps the ducks were all girlfriends hanging out together at the ol’ swimming hole – you know “a girl’s morning out?”
Perhaps you can enlighten me?
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
I’d have no idea….
I hope you get some nice weather soon 💕
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They mostly look the same size so that is why it was hard to tell. Today it was very hot, worse tomorrow through Friday.
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Amorous fish! Nothing better.
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I’ll duck the question, because I don’t know much about waterfowl.
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Ha ha Anne – you quack me up!
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I would bet a mama and her almost-grown offspring. Too bad about the near-miss on the carp photos. Maybe another time.
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That’s what I think too Laurie. They are just a wee bit smaller than the one female mallard. I might have to have a “Miscellaneous Critter Bucket List” next year and include Peepers and Carp. They make some tremendous splashes in the Creek when they flop down!
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Miss Linda……………………………Maybe if we were ducks we’d not complain about the heat…………………….if they felt warm they could just “duck” under the water to cool off……………………we can’t just do that!
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You’re right about that Ann Marie – we’d have to change clothes all the time or find a swimming pool. This weather is something else and unfortunately is with us the entire week. No fun to walk in this weather is it? But I keep reminding myself it is not snow or ice!
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Be careful if you go out in this heat Linda. I can’t believe the ducklings are grown up already.
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Thanks Diane – this morning I drove to the Park and then did something different. I walked one entire loop, then I walked six times on the shady side of the loop. One side is no trees, the other side has lots of trees … that way it was tolerable and did four miles; otherwise I would not have gotten that much in. This weather is horrible.
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Smart lady!!!! It is 100 degree heat index here right now.
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I hate this high heat/humidity. We were the same and next week it is 100 degrees real temperature. Not looking forward to that. I generally will go to the grocery story and walk there, but staying away from stores for now if possible.
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Oh my, are these the goslings that have grown in the past month?! Maybe the pictured ones are a different squad of geese. But one goose looks like the leader. Hard to tell. But if the goslings got that big in a month…their growth spurt is amazing!
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They do grow quickly Esther. When the Park was not open the month of May, I missed documenting how the geese grew. I did not take a picture of them every day, but maybe once a week or ten days. Once they lose that cute-and-fuzzy-look, they start getting big feet, grayish bodies and look like canoes. I call them “teenagers” because they are in the awkward stage just like human preteens get … all arms and legs and gangly looking too.
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We used to live in a subdivision that had its own park/pond/play area. The mallard ducks lurved that pond and I remember how fun it was to watch them. I hadn’t thought of that in years. Your photos reminded me of it.
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Glad to stir up some nice memories for you Ally. Sometimes the ducks will move away as soon as they see a human, but I was right on the overlook and they didn’t budge, just frolicking away in the water.
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I can deal with cold but not heat! I bet their blood gets cooled through their feet/legs being in the cooler water.
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That could be Wayne. They were enjoying themselves and I’m pretty sure it was a Mama with her nearly full-grown ducklings. One of the meteorologists I follow on Twitter said we had so many warm days so far in 2020, that this is the first time you could swim in all of the Great Lakes!
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I’ve never felt Lake Ontario ever being warm!
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I now hear we are going to be 100 degrees actual temperature, not just “real feel” next week mid-week. That’ll really warm up all the Great Lakes!
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find the switch and turn it down please! That’s way too hot for me~ I prefer the cold!
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We had a pop-up storm last night and another one this afternoon. Both were not predicted and today’s was volatile, high winds and hail and torrential rain. But it did not break the heat unfortunately. I’m with you Wayne … this heat is over the top. My favorite season is Fall.
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I like the “Goldi-Loks” zone…..not too hot and not too cold!
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Me too … I am looking forward to Fall already. It is 6:25 a.m. and 74 degrees (real feel of 82) and 92% humidity. That’s just ridiculous and the expectation of another storm this afternoon.
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that’s stinking hot! Don’t go out until nightfall.
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It was hot, but at least this morning it was overcast. I may not walk next week when it is 100 degrees if it is humid … that is just oppressive.
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I read your post yesterday, but I could not comment on my phone app. I was going to guess they are all girls hanging out at the watering hole. 🙂
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They sure were having a good time Sandra – I came home with lots of “dunking photos” but left them out – as it was many of these were similar. A girl’s morning out at the watering hole – sounds good to me!
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We have been getting so much rain in Central Indiana that I feel like one of those ducks!
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Funny you say that JP because we had not had rain throughout this heat wave and no promise of rain until this Friday. I had hoped for rain over 4th of July due to all the fireworks in the neighborhood. Then yesterday and today we had sudden pop-up storms (likely from the heat). Tuesday night’s was rather volatile and many folks lost power. This afternoon, another pop-up storm, but a humdinger. Some hail, high winds and once again torrential rains. The lights flickered. The weather is certainly bizarre. We will have 100 actual temps next week (as opposed to just “real feel”). The heat is adding fuel to the fire. Here in the Detroit area, we have a freeway shooter, with 12 random shootings in 15 days. I’m happy I don’t work downtown any longer.
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While I love the idea of a girls’ party, I’m leaning toward this year’s brood growing fast! You captured fun photos as per usual. You’re right this heat is HOT – we’re in the midst of some of the storms that’ll be heading your way. Mostly just thunder, wind, and rain. You know, summer storms. Stay cool and stay safe, Linda!
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I’m pretty sure they are almost full-grown ducklings too. Mama was not much bigger than they were, except when she spread her wings like she did. We had some storms the last two days; yesterday’s was worse, lots of wind, hail and torrential rain. Good for the yard and saved me watering at least. You stay cool and safe too Shelley. I am walking at the Park but staying on the shady side until it cools off considerably.
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Yes, the rain did help our yard and the crops in the fields here too. Stay cool and safe, Linda!
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Yes, ours too – torrential rain three days in a row. You too Shelley.
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The weather in most regions provides very few perfect days. That’s another reason to look forward to heaven: temps in the low-mid 70s, low humidity, God’s Light always shining…I’m sure that’s a pretty accurate guess of how it will be!
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Nancy, I will look forward to Heaven then because that is perfect weather for me. Fall is my favorite season and time of year – perfect temps, even a chill in the air is fine and sunny days … this heat is really over the top! Our weather here in SE Michigan has been very erratic the last three or four years. Seasons overlap or are dramatically different than what we’ve gotten accustomed to through the years.
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