Ducks are Gathering
Even though it has been snowing for several days very little has accumulated. Above freezing temperatures are keeping ice from forming on the lake, but there is no doubt that winter is on the way because the ducks are gathering. Today the ducks disappeared during an especially heavy snowfall, oddly we could still hear the sounds of their quacking. On closer inspection we saw over 50 ducks hiding out under shelter of our dock! Their are no dumb ducks in this group.
Each day the number of ducks hanging out in the cove increases and soon I expect to see them fly south. Right now the majority are Mallards with a few Barrows Goldeneye and one remaining Rednecked Grebe. I wonder about that Grebe, all the others left more than a month ago. Why does one stay so far behind?
It is a bit nippy for nautical pursuits but every now and then we will see someone heavily bundled, jackets, rain gear, knit hat and gloves, cruising slowly in an outboard. It doesn’t look like much fun and they don’t stay for long. But, I guess the idea of giving up boating for the season is hard for some, so they go for one last time. Ice should be forming on the lake soon, it is already crusted the surface in the shaded shallow inlets, and soon winter will be here. Until then, I am enjoying the ducks.
Alaskan Artist, Gail Niebrugge
