It seems that years pass without me spotting a Pekin Duck and yet, here is the second one within a week.

All of the ducks we saw were within one bit of open water. There were 100’s more last January on a -10 morning at this same place.

Male Black Ducks can be distinguished from female by the colourful yellow bill.

Species list: pekin duck, mallard, American black duck, ring-billed gull, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, European starling, northern cardinal.  (12 species)

Some botany:

Park views:

This morning’s group:

NATURE POETRY

The icicles now fringe the trees
That swayed in summer’s gentle breeze,
When summer days were fair.         – Dora Read Goodale (1866–1915)

Miles Hearn