Muscovy are Back!

And with it comes another round of duck drama. I thought we were to be without that this year since it didn't start in February but it's here! First, is a photo of Brokewing. You can look at last spring's post about him but basically he had angel wing and could not fly. neighbor took him in and he's been living a semi wild/semi domesticated life since. He's very handsome and healthy because he gets food, shelter, and veterinary care. There are other Muscovy who fly in to hang out with him (including mating with females) so he still has his wild wide.

Well, yesterday a female with 8 ducklings showed up in the front pond (there are two in my neighborhood with one being by the busy road and the other being across from my house). Shortly after a neighbor boy brought a 9th duckling to the pond. Apparently she had them behind their house and the 9th was too young and weak to follow mom and siblings. These ducklings are very young.

I hear she was upper excited when the boy brought her 9th baby!

The drama restarted yesterday when a strange male showed up and grabbed one of the baby ducks. Brokewing's owner chased him till he let go and the duckling ran back to it's mama. Now today, I think they are in the pond near me. Or, there's a second mama and babies. Brokewing's daddy has been adding well water to the front pond and it turns out it drains down into ours so now the ducks have moved down here. The front pond is more shaded but by the road.

Inverness Florida

Mom and I spent the weekend in Inverness. We went to visit my Aunt Mary and Uncle Larry in nearby Beverly Hill which, incidentially, makes them the Beverly Hillbillies!
I stopped and took some photos at City Park and the nearby old-town historic district. The sun was so bright that some are not worth sharing. The first is the City Park and Cooter Pond mascot. I was reading a sign that says next week is their local Cooter festival. For those that don't know, a Cooter is a turtle.

The trees were covered in Spanish moss. Normally it looks cool to me (as in temp) because it sways in the breeze but with Halloween decorations out, it looks kinda spooky.

Here's a close up of some that fell out of a tree. I didn't touch it because someone once told me it has these little red bugs in it, similar to fleas. I don't know if that's true but I want nothing to do with biting bugs thank you.

There is a gazebo, board walk, and what I would call a small lake but it is a pond.

Photo taken from the gazebo - you tell me, pond or lake?

You don't have to tell me twice!

Looking up at the gazebo construction.

The trail is measured and marked.

Next we headed a block or two away to the old town. It has a courthouse that is on the registry of historic places. This is where the sun was glaring so I couldn't even see what I was shooting. This is the best of the worst.

Ending with a lovel oak covered in Spanish moss.