A Much Needed Little Outing

 

Before getting Nature Deficit Disorder because of my stupid leg, last Tuesday I decided to go and sit by a lake - not "my" lake, but a smaller lake nearby. Yes, I still can't walk for very long (but the good news is that I'll start PT next week), but I knew that at this lake the benches aren't too far away from the parking lot. I chose a bench in the shade and when I looked up I saw myself sitting across from this little guy, a beautiful Black-crowned Night Heron.

A moment later this large family of Canada Geese (with many well behaved adolescents) was swimming by.

Suddenly a Domestic Goose turned up right beside me. I have huge respect of Domestic Geese, but to my relief this one wasn't interested in me at all.

There were two ducks standing on the rocks below the surface of the water and busily preening. I'm not sure what they are - the white one might be a White Muscovy Duck, but I couldn't find anything about the brownish-black and white one to the left. Some suggestions said Magpie Duck, but the images I saw looked different. Maybe David can solve this puzzle.

The Black-crowned Night Heron was still sitting there. Look at the beautiful reflection in the water.

Another puzzle came swimming by - maybe a Domestic Mascovy Duck?

Some of the Canada Geese came closer to the shore while my little feathered friend was preening himself.

But then they decided they wanted to go to the small island on the other side.

Someone was standing guard on a rock in front of that island.

I think this California Ground Squirrel has almost a repraochful expression, don't you agree?

It was getting hot, the heron had taken off by then, so it was time for me to head home as well.

The day before, I had a different animal encounter, right at our front door. I first saw only this:

It made me stop and go very slowly and quietly to the kitchen door from where I could see the Red Fox, but she couldn't see me. It was such a magic moment!

And if you need a human face for Nicole's Friday Face Off, here is mine, right after my lovely neighbor cut my hair again last week. Unfortunately, my hair grows quickly and since I dislike hair on the nape of my neck, especially when it is sweaty and wet, I need more frequent hair cuts. How was I able to tolerate long hair all those years? (bottom photo, taken in 2018)