These two Wood Ducks were sunning on the end of an Alligator platform until I passed by.
Actually, there had been three; one had dropped into the water as I rounded the bend.
The other two seemed to be communicating…
… stay, or go?
The female made up her mind and jumped feet first into the pond.
The male made a showier exit…
and a delicate splash down.
A Wood Duck couple swam through the duck weed in a vegetation choked pond. This pair didn’t have any chicks in sight, perhaps a failed nest or their young have already succumbed to one of the many challenges nature presents.
Alligator ramps around the pond provide a fairly safe and dry spot for the Wood Duck ducklings to dry off and preen.
The Yellow-bellied Slider seemed oblivious to their occupation of his sunny spot.
Mama Wood Duck stayed in the water, patrolling for safety. Other times I have observed this there has been a Wood Duck drake nearby, also on alert, but I did not see one this time.
This family was up against the edge of the pond and I didn’t see them until mom had them underway.
I was hoping they would swim into a patch of sunshine.
They preferred a path through the shade.
That’s far enough!
Most Wood Ducks I have seen are pretty shy, and this one was no exception.
He either heard me or a hawk that was in the area, or both.
He didn’t make a fuss, but calmly made for denser quarters, avoiding paddling through the patches of sunlight.
Yesterday was the first time I’ve seen more than two or three Wood Ducks together since last spring’s ducklings matured earlier in the summer.
Several were lined up on an Alligator ramp as I approached and a few small groups were paddling around in the pond. They tend to be skittish and their general direction was away from me, but a couple more flew onto the ramp.
I heard a Hawk call in the distance and these two groups and about twenty more that I didn’t even know were there in the tree line along my path flew off in a frenzy. Sadly, no photos of that!
Shortly after the nice surprise of seeing a Wood Duck with two ducklings on Sunday I came upon this one with eight ducklings.
They were paddling along all together in a tight group at first but eventually spread out enough for me to count them.
They followed the pond to the corner then did an about face and headed back the way they came, sticking pretty close to mom. The water was reflecting the dead brown grass on the bank so this image isn’t that pretty, but you can see each duckling distinctly.
Swimming through a bountiful feast of duck weed a mother Wood Duck ushered her two ducklings along without any snacking.
Turns out they were headed for a dry spot for some personal grooming and rest.
Wait for me!
These ducklings and their Wood Duck mom were exploring the middle of the pond, back and forth.
Mom was working hard keeping track of her charges. A male Wood Duck was nearby but didn’t appear to be helping with the minute to minute supervision.
When they finally spread out a bit I counted 18 ducklings!
As juvenile Wood Ducks grow it becomes harder to tell them from the adult females. These two were hanging out getting some sun on a recent afternoon, showing some of their newly developed colors.
Not content to just sit, one of them took a walk to the other end of the ramp to see what a third duck was up to.
The alligator ramp they are on is not far from shore and any ducks that are on it usually head for the middle of the pond after a few photographs by passers by.
