Just Grand and an update

We stayed home a week after our booster shots, having stocked up on groceries just before that shot. I have issues with my back and haven’t been able to use the treadmill or bike during that time so I was feeling rather down and the weather wasn’t helping. The wind has been relentless and the cold with it precluded any outdoor photography. When the wind took a break, finally, we went to Grand River to see the ducks which gather there every winter. Ducks are among my favourite birds.

We were looking for Goldeneyes, Common and Barrow’s, but were thrilled to see so many American Black Ducks there. Hundreds of them were gathered over areas of open water by the bridges on the Grand River. That day, their nasal quacking sound carried through the air and was music to my ears. This photo, showing the white under their wings is one of my favourites. 

Most of the Goldeneyes there flew off when we stopped the car. However a few hung around with the Black Ducks and this male Common Goldeneye was obvious among its black friends. 

The female Barrow’s Goldeneye with its orange bill is front and centre of this photo.

Mallards were absent from the saltwater marsh by the boardwalk this past autumn, so I was thrilled to see them as well. The females are difficult to distinguish from the Black Ducks but one is obvious in the front left of this photo, with the male behind her with his familiar green head. In addition a female Common Merganser with its brown head and grey body was obvious too.

Nearby, domestic geese enjoyed the area too, oblivious to the human stood above them on the road, watching with interest. There are always domestic geese in this area every winter.

We drove along the river to another area of fast running water where both species of Goldeneyes were plentiful. But that’s another story.

Update:

Anyone who follows my blog knows that my husband and I recently took our golden grand-dog, Georgie, to the vet. She is doing well on the medication for arthritis.

On February 3rd, Georgie celebrated her twelfth birthday with her family. Our daughter is convinced the dog knew it was her cake even before the treats were added!

Surprise! She ate the whole thing minus the candles, unlike her eighth birthday when she chowed down on the candle too. 

In addition, we have had four weekend snowstorms in five weeks. The most recent dumped a huge amount of snow without the high winds of the previous storms. Needless to say, we are tired of winter.