Back in May I lamented about how another Spring would be passing me by without a duckling sighting. I must have whined long and loud enough that suddenly it seemed that every time I turned around I saw ducklings, either on land or in the water.
So, can there ever be too much cuteness in the world?
Granted, these are not the “mini-me” fuzzy-wuzzy ducklings I’ve shown in prior posts, but I was struck how identical they were as each was a mirror image of Mama Mallard. I was able to get close up to this little family by first taking a few handfuls of dried oatmeal to lure them near.
But I guess my offerings fell flat and didn’t appeal to them much, as the ducklings wandered over and walked away. Mama Mallard didn’t give it a second glance. I had heard oatmeal was a nice treat for ducks and I enjoy it for breakfast every day, so I littered the grass for nothing. Oh well, next time I guess I have to stop at the feed and grain store and get some corn.
The ducklings did not stray far from Mama’s watchful eye …
… and she had their rapt attention. After waddling over to the water’s edge, they plopped in for a short swim in Coan Lake.
Mama Mallard is proud of her brood – they were quick learners!
I had these photos from Heritage Park tucked away since early June, since it seemed like my blog was chock full of either ducks or geese during the month of May when Council Point Park was shut down and I ventured to other larger parks every weekend.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
It’s great to see ducks in your post again.
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Glad you liked them Anne. I was nearing the end of duck and geese posts, then got more pics over the weekend at two of the venues where I went walking. I like ducks – they’re not as fractious as geese. But I made that statement, however, there was a rabble-rouser in the pond yesterday … one duck went around biting the other Mallards … and chasing them around the small pond. It was erratic behavior and I took some photos – hopefully they come out.
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I wonder if the odd duck had gone crazy.
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I have to tell you that I wondered for a minute if ducks could be rabid … I’ve not looked at the photos but will be eager to see if all the shots I took show him going after the others. The others scattered but he just went in pursuit of them out of the water and onto the banks.
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A bully, maybe??
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That could be Anne. I sure hope the pictures come out – that duck was a real terror at the pond.
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Oatmeal must be the kale of the duck world! 🙂
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I never heard of oatmeal for ducks, then a fellow blogger takes her kids to a park and they read to feed them dry oatmeal. You learn something new every day! It did not make a hit with these ducklings or the Mama … back to the drawing board I guess.
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It is great to see ducklings, I hardly ever see them around here. Wonderful photos Linda.
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Thanks Sandra … I marvel how quickly they grow from those cute little striped and fuzzy ducklings into mirror images of their Mom. When I saw all the Canada geese the other day at Council Point Park, I figured some had to be adults, but could not tell … they are the same size now. When the Park closed on May 1st, there was one pair of geese I saw herding 17 goslings near the water.
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Quacking good photos of cuteness. A nice thing to see on a Monday morning.
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I think a dose of cuteness is just what the doctor ordered these days Ally.
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💕
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Miss Linda…………………………….the ducks are my favorite……………………………yes and her baby ducklings never leave her side……………………………….our apartment pond is named The Duck Pond………………………all summer………………………..Mr and Mrs Meany Goose……………were gone most of the summer………………………………they come back ever so often and put up a honking mess to let everyone know who the boss of this pond is………………………………………….but then they leave…………………………..soon they will be back for good……………………
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I was at Lake Erie Metropark on Saturday and saw lots of geese overhead … usually I don’t see that until later in the year (and it sure wasn’t Fall-like weather). The ducks are my favorite too. I must have taken 50 duck pictures over the weekend Ann Marie. Your geese will be back now that their feathers have grown in.
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What wonderful family photos. 🙂
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I was really close up to them Ruth. They were paying attention to Mama and not to me so I could get these shots. 🙂
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Huh! No oatmeal for ducks? That’s a shame. I always have oatmeal on hand. That would be a great way for my grandson to feed the ducks at the park. They have one of those machines there where you put a quarter in and a handful of duck feed comes out, but I don’t always have a quarter to give him. I am sorry the ducklings were not tempted by your treat!
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Well you could try corn and have it on hand for the grandsons – there are several people at parks where I go and they bring cracked corn and the ducks just go crazy for it, but it has to go on the grass. You’d think it would sink into the grass blades, but they can find it. I had not heard of oatmeal, but it apparently appeals to them – not these ducks. Not interested!
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Hahahaha I sat here and stared at that oatmeal thinking “Well why can’t I see the critter?” I gave up and continued reading…good thing! Your oatmeal will disappear fast. If not by a critter then by the insects.
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I had never heard of using oatmeal for feeding ducks – a fellow blogger lives in California. She has home schooled her kids long before COVID and they go out on nature walks – she told me they use dry oatmeal to feed the ducks. Maybe it is a California duck thing? Their residents are more body conscious than Midwestern ducks who eat corn! 🙂
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Perhaps the problem with the dry oatmeal is that you didn’t provide the milk or brown sugar? I tried dry oatmeal once as a kid and I can’t say that I blame the ducks. 🙂
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Ha ha – I am an oatmeal lover and have had it for breakfast almost as many years as I’ve been on Earth – if a thought bubble was over the ducks’ heads, it would read “we’re ducks – we’re not health nuts; we eat corn every day for goodness sake; try to do better next time, okay?”
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