There were also some mellow Mallards and grumpy Geese too.

On July 22nd I headed to Dingell Park, …

… the first time I’d been there since that frosty February day when I went for the Great Backyard Bird Count.

I strolled along the Boardwalk; it was a perfect Summer day. There have been so few of them, in my humble opinion of course, that they were to be savored. I’d just driven back from Lake Erie Metropark and this was my last stop before heading home.

I was surprised to see no fisherman along the Boardwalk – perhaps they were here earlier – it was straight-up noon after all.

Feathers littered the grass along the Boardwalk …

… because it was waterfowl molting time. The Canada Geese from Council Point Park always disappeared to Dingell Park, just a mile or so away, paddling with their goslings in tow, once they begin losing their flight feathers because then they could not escape land predators. Here they are safe and hang out for a few months until their feathers have been replenished.

A pleasure boat zipped by – from my vantage point, they were having more fun than me strolling on the Boardwalk.

Up ahead, I saw a few folks in the pavilion area along with some waterfowl at the water’s edge. I thought those geese might be the recipients of a few tantalizing tidbits as I saw kids at the railing. “Well good” I thought. “There may be some photo ops, since I’m not getting any pics of anglers with their catch of the day.”

The kids quickly departed with the rest of the family, so it was just me, along with about 40 waterfowl that lingered near this peaceful area.

Normally, that many ducks and geese would be making a lot of noise, but not that day because they were subdued due to molting. None of these feathered friends were exempt, even the ducklings, who start losing their downy feathers and gain their adult plumage, a few months after hatching. More about those cutie pies later.

The water directly beneath the pavilion is surprisingly very clear, despite all the freighter and boat traffic in these waters – however, that couldn’t be said for litter that floated around the shoreline. I artfully shot around the litter.

I arrived at a good time as some geese lingered, hopeful for more tasty tidbits and a few mellow Mallards gave me some photo ops, like this Mallard nestled near the weeds at the shoreline. It is often tough to tell the males from the females during the Eclipse molting phase – for a short time ALL the Mallards have brown plumage. This Mallard looks like he is easing out of Eclipse phase, soon to have those bright colors we are so familiar with, like the iridescent teal head and white neck ring.

As this Mallard rested comfortably, one watchful eye on me, a sweet duckling paddled toward its family at the water’s edge.

I am always in awe about our feathered friends.

(Especially when people call them bird brains!)

I was reminded of the goslings at Council Point from back in May. If Mama or Papa abruptly decided to abandon grazing for swimming, the obedient babies followed the adults down to the Creek. You probably remember all the goslings leaping off the cement ledge after Mama … they learn by example.

Like how these ducklings snuggled near their Mama who was likely mindful of that one duckling that returned later than the others from its paddle. She was frenzied over her feathers, picking out old ones, trying to stop the itch from the new feathers.

Her ducklings decide to mimic their Mama, picking furiously at their feathers.

That is, except this one duckling who figures it looks mighty fine – why mess with perfection? (Yes, there is always one of those in every family!)

I focused my attention and my camera on the family for a good 15 minutes, taking lots of photos, most which weren’t very good as they were constantly on the move, picking and preening.

This was the same bucking-the-trend baby from the last picture.

I was lucky to get a few poses out of them before they started preening again.

I desire a little “alone time” please …

… is what this Mallard seemed to convey in its yoga-like pose at the far end of a weathered piece of cement. The waterfowl like perching on this long cement piece all year around, especially in Winter to keep those webbed feet off the ice.

Sadly, this Mallard’s personal space did not remain his for very long as a few Canada Geese decided to join him, politely at first, leaving that duck to itself …

… but soon a pair of rogue geese overtook the rock, forcing the Mallard off and into the water. So much for sharing.

This goose, closer to the water’s edge, right beneath me, seemed appalled by his brethren’s behavior.

This was the same goose I showed you in a recent Wordless Wednesday post, with the deer-in-the headlights look as it gazed into the water.

Bopping down the Boardwalk at Dingell Park gave me a few nature photos for which I was grateful, even though my main purpose that day was to visit one of the DIA art installations at this venue. There are multiple paintings for Inside/Out in Ecorse this year, but I didn’t want to overdo it with more masterpieces, as I had already done one post and planned to visit the Gibralter installation.

So here is one of the six Ecorse paintings, aptly placed, as usual, near the Boardwalk at the Detroit River, across from Mud Island.

I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Animals and Pepper’s Hiking Challenge: One step at a time.