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.
Linda Schaub
Great study and shots Linda!
A duckling a day will keep the blues away!
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I agree with you Wayne! I was happy to see these ducklings up close and personal since any other ducklings I’d seen at Lake Erie Metropark were pretty far away and Mama was herding them away from me as quickly as she could paddle. I was looking down from the pavilion, so they all were pretty confident I was not going to jump over the railing. 🙂
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ahh…..Natures wonders!
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When you’re a duckling, downy and sweet, you’ve got the world at your disposal … certainly the humans who ooh and aah at you.
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imagine having a pet the size of a cat that is a fluffy duckling and stays that way ………you’d become a billionaire overnight!
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I agree – it would be great! Look at all the people that have large birds as pets that spend a lot of their time outside their cages and the enjoyment they get from those pets. My mom used to say about Sugar “just a few ounces of feathers and bones and he gives us such enjoyment.” He was such a great singer, but we had parakeets through the years and they were a big part of the family, especially Joey, our last parakeet.
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A great post. I just love ducks!
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Thanks Kate! They were so darn cute and I was happy to get close-ups of the ducklings, looking down from the pavilion. All the other ducklings I’ve seen this year were smaller and too far away, then their Mama steered them away as soon as she saw me.
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I have to admire an artist who finds a cove of rocks and surf and then takes the time to make a painting out of it. There must be something transcendental in the process, because to me it seems boring to paint rocks and water. Of course, that is why I’m not an artist 🙂
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I have to agree with you Dave, because nothing is going to change in that view the entire time it takes to complete the painting, although it would surely be a peaceful venue sound wise, to hear the waves lapping at the shore or crashing on the rocks.
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Those Canada Geese can be annoying! I was reading that there is a city near where I live that is oiling the eggs so they don’t hatch. A bit drastic I think.
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I agree Susan – geese can be pushy and boisterous sometimes and, if I am at Dingell Park, it may be “first dibs” to occupy this long rock, but the geese will come and overtake it every time, even if the ducks are there. At big parks, the ducks and turtles are happy to share a log and the ducks don’t take the attitude “well, I’m bigger than you, so leave!” I have heard about oiling the eggs, or shooing the geese away, then capturing them briefly and removing the real eggs and putting fake eggs back in the nest. Do they really think the geese are dumb and the female will incubate fake eggs?
A few years ago, I was at Heritage Park on Easter Sunday, the only one there and from my vantage point on the covered bridge, I watched Mama Goose step off the nest, pluck downy feathers and let them fall on the eggs. She poked and prodded the eggs, moving them slightly before settling down again. She did not see me and assumed she was safe to step off the nest with no one crowding the nesting area. I took photos and it was such a tender moment. Messing with nature is not right.
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I agree with you, we shouldn’t mess with nature. They have a right to live too and when you see wildlife interact with each other and their young, it’s quite heartwarming
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No, we are not helping wildlife. We can’t take it for granted they will always be around. I feel badly I never saw any fawns this year – but I’m always happy to see goslings and ducklings. I am easy to please!
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I saw a V-shaped formation of geese flying south the other day and wondered if this is becoming rare. So many geese, it seems, are tempted to stay up north all winter long.
And “Molting mallards” would make a great expression of surprise. 😛
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I wonder if the geese fly south anymore too JP? I don’t see that many Vs anymore. I used to see the geese at Council Point Park all year around, except for two months when they molt and lose their flight feathers – then they go to Dingell Park to hang out at the water and seawall where they are safe from predators. “Molting mallards” sounds like it could be a show, an event, a drink … and, an element of surprise. 🙂
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I love all bird images. I didn’t know this about molting…that they go somewhere safe while the new feathers grow in. My cardinals look terrible right now, but they’ll be back in good form soon. And that also explains why the geese, who daily move from the pond across the street to a little lake up at the end of our street are now walking again, like they did when the kids were little. They move from one water to the other early in the morning and again just as it gets dark. When they’re walking they leave a trail of ‘gifts’ for all of us to step in, and those gifts are now appearing going up the road, just like in spring! Now I know why!
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Thanks Dawn – the ducklings were so cute and I finally got to see ducklings up close, just below the pavilion area where I was standing. The ducks go to safe waters while molting to evade predators too. The geese and their goslings used to paddle down to Dingell Park, just about a mile from Council Point Park. It was great to get rid of them for a couple of months and just like clockwork, they would return around Labor Day, being a pain with their “gifts” and once again eating the squirrels’ peanuts and sunflower seeds. When I first started going to Lake Erie Metropark, I took a few of their interpretive walks and two of their cruises. I learned a lot of things in those walks, the cruises too. They didn’t resume the cruises after the pandemic ended which was too bad.
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So interesting to read this post, Linda! Molting is such a crazy time for all the members of the bird family! Even here, our Bald Eagles molt, which means they can’t fly well, so they waddle around on the lake shores and can still manage to hunt for fish. All birds look bedraggled and ragged for a few weeks. Lovely pics of the geese!
I tried to read your post on my phone with Jetpack but I couldn’t get to it for some reason. Have a great day!
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I feel sorry for all the birds when they are molting Terri. I had canaries and each of them were miserable during their annual molt which happened every Summer and lasted two or three months. The canaries didn’t sing and were listless and slept all the time. The wild songbirds get lethargic and raggedy looking and the geese and ducks do nothing but pull their feathers out, then pick at the new ones growing in. The geese were gathered down at Dingell Park safe from land predators – we have coyotes in the area. The seawall and Detroit River keeps them safe from land predators. That’s interesting about the Bald Eagles. Such big birds forced to lay low during their annual molt.
I wonder what happened as to reading on Jetpack? I’ve never viewed posts on Jetpack before.
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I didn’t realize the molting went on for so long. Love the painting, although I am not familiar with the artist. I like the idea of the paintings matching up with the landscape. July seems so long ago….
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Joni, yes, it takes a while, at least two months, until they are ready to fly again. So, they hang out by the water for a quick escape. We have a lot of coyotes prowling around here, so the ducks and geese are smart to leave. I’ve never heard of this artist either, but I am not as familiar with art as you are. I am always amazed how the DIA matches the scenes perfectly. My last DIA Inside/Out visit was at Gibralter which is nicknamed “Little Venice” as Gibralter is built around canals. I just looked at my scheduled posts – it will be on October 4th. Now that I’ve been going to these art installations for a while, I see some are repeat paintings. That was the case in Gibralter; there were paintings I’d photographed in the past.
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Love the duckling photos. Ducklings are so fun to watch. Duck don’t seem to have the pushiness that geese exhibit.
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Thanks Rebecca – they were so cute, especially that one that was a bit bolder than its siblings. Yes, geese are pushy and you could see it here – just let that one mallard seem to enjoy a little quiet time and the geese went and took over the rock.
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Beautiful waterscapes and the ducklings are adorable, of course! 😊
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Thank you Pepper – I was lucky to get close-ups of the duckling, peering over the pavilion at them. 🙂
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Gotta love those right time, right place moments. 😊
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Yes, they are what make photography and nature so special!
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I agree and it also gets me out the door again, hoping for that right moment to happen,. 😊
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Yes, we are always hopeful for that perfect, right-moment shot. With critters, it’s dicey sometimes.
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Sounds like the molting process is pretty uncomfortable! You got some great shots, though, and the ducklings are cute. 😀 Those pushy geese, eh? So much for Canadians being “nice”! 😉
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Yes, it is strenuous on all birds Debbie. Through the years we had parakeets and canaries and I don’t recall the parakeets having as much of a hard time with it as the canaries. The canaries would stop singing, were very lethargic and it took them a good two months+ to get back to their former selves. We used to use a tape recording of their singing and play it to prompt them to start singing again. The ducklings were cute and I’m glad I got them up close because all the other ducklings I’d seen to date were smaller and far away. Yes, the always-nice and ever-polite Canadians does not apply to Canada Geese unfortunately. 🙂
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It would be so much fun to take a walk with you, Linda, and see all these waterbirds in person. Thanks for sharing your adventures and noticing all the interesting things they do and how they interact with each other. Especially the little ones imitating their parents – lol. So cute!
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Thank you Barbara! I think it would be fun for us to take a walk together too. We’d be checking out everything, with our eyes, through the lens and chattering away! Remember when we both had our Canada Goose on a nest, awaiting those sweet goslings? I was excited to see the ducklings up close because the other times, the ducklings were very tiny and Mama steered them away as soon as she saw me. This one duckling had a mind of its own and kept looking at me while the rest of the family members were busy preening. I had to figure that the ducklings truly had nothing to preen – they weren’t that old, so they just imitated Mama!
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I do remember! Those were some good times we shared…
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Yes they were!
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A great post, Linda. So cute to see the babies imitating momma.
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Thanks Ruth! I thought it was cute too – there’s no way they were dealing with molting yet as they were so young. Are there any baby critters, feathered or furred, that are not cute and adorable?
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No! Babies are simply adorable!
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Agreed!
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