Ducks In The Garden? Sure, Why Not...

So there I was the other day in my garden shed, loading up items in my arms to carry out into the backyard when I heard “quacking”. You know what I’m talking about; the sound that ducks make. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I figured it was coming from the open green space behind our home. In addition to all the beautiful greenery in that section, there’s also a creek that runs through it, and a pond nearby, so it’s not all that strange to see a duck or a goose or a number of other birds passing through or hanging around. There’s even a heron that stops by the pond now and then that I’m hoping to photograph one of these days.

Anyhow...

I stepped out into the garden...when what to my wondering eyes should appear… Oh, sorry, that’s from that Christmas poem...

Let’s try again.

So I stepped out into the garden and what do I see? Ducks. Just casually walking around my garden like it’s such a normal thing to do.

I stood frozen for the longest time with pots and saucers and bird feeders and ornaments and whatever other garden gizmos and gadgets I had loaded up in my arms. And I kept repeating over and over again “You’re kidding me, right?”

When the initial shock wore off, I calmly put down all the garden goodies I was carrying, and slowly and quietly walked toward the birds.

My beloved DSLR camera, the newest love in my life, was in the house. IN THE HOUSE! I had intended to take it out...later. Boy did I regret not having it on me. Here was this great photo opportunity and my camera was IN THE HOUSE.

Thankfully, I had my small point and shoot camera hanging by my side, so I could at least take a few shots, albeit it of poorer quality, just to prove that this really happened.

If I hadn’t had my small camera to record the moment, I would be like ‘Big Bird’ on Sesame Street who was the only one who saw Mr. Snuffleupagus, a woolly mammoth-like creature with long eyelashes (save for the kids watching the show). The adults believed Snuffleupagus was just an imaginary friend, and it took years for Big Bird to finally prove that his shaggy friend was not a figment of his imagination.

That would be me, but with ducks.

“She says she saw ducks in the back yard.”

“Huh...is that so? Sounds to me like she’s been sniffing the fertilizer.”

So a few hasty, poor quality images are better than none, because at least everyone will believe my story.

Ducks. Of all things. Word must be getting around about all that food I put out there for my backyard critters, and this couple decided to come over and investigate.

Ducks. Imagine that. I wonder what’s next.

Ducks In The Garden? Sure, Why Not...