Waiting out the winter

Somewhere these guys are making it through the winter somehow. I'm hoping to see ducklings in the spring. So far, I have only seen mallard ducklings; these wood ducks seem to be a little more private with their children, alongside the Little Union Canal.

Tonight another trip back in time to the ancient Chinese poets:

Standing Alone

A bird of prey above the sky
and two white gulls over the river
gliding on wind. A good time to attack,
while they roam about relaxed.
The grasses are all balled with dew
and the spiderweb is not yet closed.
Heaven's secret plan is like human designs
I stand alone with a thousand worries.

Du Fu, in The Anchor Book of Chinese Poetry;
edited by Tony Barnstone and Chou Ping, 2005, page 136.

Look about: can you see the dew on the grass? How many different birds have you seen this week?

The Good Mother

The Good Mother
Originally uploaded by jhhymas

This duck is known for taking good care of her ducklings. The flock is a mixed flock originating from three of four different kinds of duck that participate in unsupervised cross-breeding.
In the dusk, the ducklings jump into the air to catch bugs. It is very cute, but hard to see because it is almost dark. Watch the little guy at the far left of the screen.