Arggg, my camera is still in the Truck.
After a little conditioning work this morning, Rocky, Tucker and I took a stroll down Rocky's Road to one of his infamous Duck Ponds. This particular one has a dike built around it so it acts as wall allowing us to sneak up on the pond. I'm starting to figure this game out. If I'm going to take in the action, I have to keep an eye on the Rockster. If he's running up to the wall to leap over it to get to the pond, I'd better be right there or I'll miss it.
This morning Rocky blew over the wall and there were about 20 ducklings, 3 mamas, and 2 beautiful Drake Mallards leisurely taking in a morning swim. Rocky put a BIG OLE SURPRISE on them. They all scattered in all different directions. The Drakes were outta there, the mamma's did their floppin' I'm dying act, and the ducklings scurried like little motor boats. I can't believe how fast those little ducklings can be in the water.
Rocky was able to catch up to one of the ducklings. However, do you think he got it?
Nope, the little fella dove right as Rocky was lunging at him.
With this big miss, Rocky decided to take after the floppin' mamas. Off toward the cattails they go. As that's happening, the little diver popped up and made his way to safety. After loosing the flopping mamas in the weeds, Rocky decided to make his way back to the original feeding feast area.
Well, the mamas weren't going to let Rocky do that again so they both started swimming back toward Rocky. It sorta looked like the ducks were chasing Rocky.
Rocky turned and the chase for the mamas was on again. This time they took him to the shore line and turned it in to a Big Time foot race for the Rockster. Down Rocky's road they went. I'd say Rocky ran about a mile trying to catch these birds that were flying just fast and high enough to keep Rocky on there tails.
A heck of a morning for the youngster. All this time the Young at Heart Tucker was watching and laughing.
Hopefully I'll remember my camera on the next venture.
Daing it, got away (still working on those
action shots)
A little fun on the side:
Tucker's teachin' the kid about scopin' Ducks.
"It's ALL About patience young grasshopper":
Rocky's Duck Pond:
Daing bird took off too quick (notice the
killdeer):
A little strength and conditioning on the
side (not bad for a rookie throwin' then clickin') :
In the past, it's been dancing
and side steppin' the ever elusive black and white stink bombs we call
Skunks.
Today it's a Mama duck and her 7 little ducklings.
Yes, it's that time of year in beautiful
wetlands of New Prague, MN. The Mama and Papa ducks have wined, dined,
danced and romanced. Course, once that happens pops takes to the
skies and leaves Mama and her newbies to take on the world.
What this particular Mallard Mama didn't understand as she built her nice
little home for her 7 little active ducklings, was that she built it on
Rocky's road.
What started out to be a normal active day for our furry little floaters,
ended up to be an early evening they'll never forget.
This venture had Rocky running along the wetlands about 20 feet behind me. I
hear the normal rustling of the weeds. However this time I hear a noise in
the water, a non-typical Labrador running in the water noise, sorta like a
fish flopping in the water noise. I turn to see something flopping about 3
feet in front of Rocky's nose with Rocky on a full, out right power swim
trying to catch it. I realise its a Mama Mallard duck. Then it dawned on me.
Mama ducks have a unique way of deterring predators from the nest. They flop
around in the water like a wounded duck would so the predator would think
she's an easy catch and swim after her instead of the little guys. They'll
keep themselves about 2-3 feet in front of the predator to eventually lead
them far away from the nest. Well, mission accomplished, so she thought. She
was able to lead Rocky about 30 yards away from the nest and sneak in to
some thick cat tails. Rocky, on the other hand, realized he could go back to
where he found this floppy fur winger hoping to find another one. Well, Mama
duck wasn't going to give her little ducklings up that easy so she flew back
to the nest and the entire circus act started all over again. A flop here, a
splash there, and Rocky's back on the chase again.
This went on for a few minutes and finally I was able to call Rocky off and
back on Rocky's Road we went.
I imagine Mama will be relocating.