DUCKS ON ICE

 

A little bit down the road in Forest Park. There are always ducks around the water features, and sometimes geese. (Who can be really mean. Don’t mess with them.)  The ducks are far better insulated than we are and don’t give a quack about the cold. I do. I wish I could have gotten a better POV over the grass but the snow was piled up so high beside by the plows that I couldn’t get up on it.              

NOT QUITE FULLY FROZEN

Forest Part has a system of streams and lakes. In nice weather you can rent a paddle boat and explore the branches. The waters are almost completely frozen over today, a rare event. Our year-round resident ducks have congregated by the one clear spot. Heaven knows what they find there.  

The temperature will rise a bit above freezing today and much higher over the coming days.The ice will soon be  gone.            

DUCKS ON A POND

The central pond or lake at the St. Louis Zoo near sunset, partly frozen over, partly not.The ducks  don't seem to care.               

QUACK

More birds in Forest Park since I didn't get out to shoot yesterday. (I actually spent most of the day in the office, since we are allowed to do that in my job.) I like the green of the water and tan of the seed pods against the color of the ducks, especially the circular patterns around the one on the bottom..          

Canard

Mrs. C's conference is at the grand old Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis. The public areas have an antique opulence. It has had a wacky tradition for 80 years - a group of ducks spends the day splashing in the ornate marble fountain in the lobby. They come down the elevator from their rooftop home at 11, parade across a red carpet to some small steps and hop into the pool. The ducks go back up the same way at 5. 

A duckmaster (how'd you like to be a duckmaster?) presides with great ceremony. There is always a big crowd. I couldn't get a line of sight anywhere on the lobby floor and had to take up a position on the mezzanine.