No series about nature in Warsaw would be complete without ducks. They’re everywhere: waddling round the ice on the bottom of their pond in Park Morskie Oko, looking a bit bemused; strolling in Łazienki, accepting the tribute of food from children’s hands; sailing around lakes foraging for their own food. They all look plump – or are they just plumped up against the cold? This dapper fellow in the park at Pruszków was quite happy to pose, giving me unprecedented photographic access to his iridescent green head, his sparkling white collar, his dashing indigo wing-bar and his pinky-orange feet.
His two colleagues weren’t quite so obliging. They required J’s eagle eye to spot them in Park Morskie Oko on the way back from preschool and the daily shop: I was too busy paying my respects to the willows and their reflections. With a bit of zoom and crop, I captured the colourful intricate origami of his shape and her more subtle patterning.
This is my contribution to the 7 day nature challenge begun by Ulli. Thank you for passing the challenge on, Gilly.
Dapper ducks indeed!
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Cor love a duck ! They’re all cute but mandarins are special. The pond isn’t icy now is it?
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No. There was just one morning when a thin skin of ice formed.
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Wow what fab colours. Love those feet 😉😉
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Your duck photographs remind me of Japanese paintings. My cousin, who loves ducks, would rave about these ones.
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I didn’t expect to get such good shots, and certainly didn’t expect to find a Mandarin so close to home. However the real enchanter remains the willow.
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Of course, because you have a very refined eye. The drakes are certainly colorful, but they look just like medieval show-offs in their finery, like Tybalt and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet! In the Japanese paintings the colours are more subdued. It is impossible to know whether the Japanese ducks were a different species, or females, or whether the original paintings have faded over time.
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And could be a perfect entry for wildlife in the garden too! A clear starry night here too for my last night in Ludlow. I shall miss the place, but tomorrow is the start of yet another chapter of my mad world 😉
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Happy beginnings my friend. I too will miss Ludlow, which you have done proud, but I look forward to meeting Cornwall.
I’m not good at multi-tasking – I’m about to post a last minute link exclusive to wildlife in the garden.
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I am a bit behind with my blog reading this week so I do hope by now your transition has gone smoothly Jude.
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That Pruszkow duck does not look real. Did Pooks and Snooks colour him in?
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Of course! You know them well and their magic capabilities!
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I was just admiring the dashing indigo sidebar when you bedazzled me with origami! 🙂 🙂 Hugs, Meg!
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And hugs back. Are you feeling less forlorn at the departure of family? Do you often have them home both at once?
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The walk yesterday, however glum, did perk me up. No, never! There isn’t really space and both have their own busy lives. James enjoyed it immensely and said it’s got to happen more often (from his futon in the study, which he didn’t mind a bit, bless him 🙂 )
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What very obliging models you found and the colours are just stunning.
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