I had a look at a pond maintained by Ducks Unlimited and was surprised by some of the occupants.
Mallards, of course, are no surprise.
MYSTERY BIRD
I will identify it at the end of the post.
Finding Gadwall was a surprise as this is a largely western species which appears here and there in summer in the east.
I always enjoy seeing Redheads.
Blue-winged Teal are much smaller than the others.
The big surprise was finding the smallest duck species in North America: the Ruddy Duck.
Some botany:
MYSTERY BIRD
The oversize beak identifies this as a Northern Shoveler.
NATURE POETRY
As water flowing over rocks hidden in the sand,
I felt the cool, as water rolled over my hand.
The country so green, flowers blooming astray,
The contentment feeling, overwhelmed, as I walked away. – Carolyn Langston
Miles Hearn