The English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley holds one view common with Balzac Billy, our Alberta Groundhog: an early spring is on its way.
Not to rub it in, but we’ve been enjoying a relatively mild winter, even a record high on Jan. 25, when the temperature reached 17C (63F).
These photos were not taken right on that day, but they all show how our ducks and geese shrugged off the icy river, spread their wings and echoed Balzac Billy’s prediction.
Here they are mass sunbathing:
The Mallards show their true colours:
Compared to the Mallards, the Buffleheads are smaller in size, and are distinctly more playful. Why wait for spring to make a splash?
or try walking on water:
The Common Merganser stands out among the crowd with their long, red beaks and eggshell white lower body with a yellow glow:
But my fave is the female Merganser. I like her roll-out-of-bed hairdo and natural mascara. For some reasons, she makes me think of Lucillle Ball:
Nature’s hourglass, every drip brings us closer to Spring:
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Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads
All Photos in this post taken by Arti of Ripple Effects
Do Not Copy or Reblog
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Ripple Effects 
I really like the Merganser, too! She looks like her hair is being blown back away from her face 🙂
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Patricia,
Welcome to the pond! Hope to hear from you again. 😉
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That comparison with Lucille Ball is inspired! And don’t they look like they’re enjoying themselves. Our coots suddenly are all gone, as are the osprey, and the kingfishers and red-winged blackbirds are showing up, so the season is turning, whatever we see or don’t see.
Personally, I’m ready. It’s still cold here, and another front is coming Wednesday, with gale force winds. Sigh. I’ll be so happy when I can just get up and go to work without having to either suffer through the day — or give it up after an hour!
Wonderful photos, Arti.
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As I mentioned in the post, this winter in terms of weather was relatively bearable. And it does look like we’re having an early spring. Anyway, I’ve concluded that there are many species of birds, ducks esp., don’t fly south during the winter. You saw my pics of Can. Geese, Mallards, and all these varieties in this post, photos I took in Jan. and Feb. are evidences that they do stay here in the winter.
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We were beautifully mild until about two weeks ago when we started the roller coaster of warm to freezing. We are white today, but not for long.
Gorgeous pics as usual. I love the mallards in mid flight!
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Michelle,
Thanks. The Mallards were getting away from me as I stepped closer. So i just quickly clicked on my camera without framing them appropriately and so you see the results, some got chopped off. But I feel the colours in the photo and the sense of movement surpass the framing of the subjects; I’m totally glad with the effects. 😉
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I love that skipping on the water shot, Arti. And that last one showing the retreating wintry effects. Enjoy your spring — the ducks certainly are!
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nikkipolani,
No crocuses or tulips yet, not until May or June. But we do have ducks and geese, all year round. 😉
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What beauty… Thank you. I needed a good long drink of it today. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by the pond. Hopefully will sustain you for a couple more days. 😉
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Love the mallards in flight! What great bands of colour!!!
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Susan,
Yes, that was a surprise for me. Glad the pic came out so nicely. Thanks for stopping by. 😉
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I love that female Merganser with her red hair raising, too! In fact, I love all these duck shots. They do seem to be having quite a good time en masse. We’ve had an all too real winter here in NYC, Arti, so spring cannot arrive fast enough. I’m sick of snow, ice and cold.
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LA,
Yes, I’ve heard about the harsh winter you’ve been having… while we bask under our temperate sun. I’ve heard too that Punxsutawney Phil saw its own shadow, an unfortunate prediction for your area I suppose? Six more weeks of winter?
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Arti, it’s snowing again right now. This winter could last into May. As for our groundhog, Staten Island Chuck, he’s terrified of New York City Mayor Bill De Butterfingers for good reason: http://nypost.com/2015/02/01/zoo-wont-let-de-blasio-hold-the-groundhog-this-year/
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Beautiful captures. I enjoyed how you turned them into a little story (& I loved the Lucille duck:-)
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Brona,
Yes, Lucile Duck. Don’t you just love her demeanour? I’ll spin more stories in the weeks to come. 😉
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Wow that last photo is so interesting. The mass sunbathing one is really cool.
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Thanks Ellen!
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Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures! 🙂
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Hope you’ll have a chance to exp. nature next time you’re here. 😉
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Bad-hair day – such a wonderful image! First time ever I see myself in a duck …
🙂
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LOL! 🙂
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Great series of photos Arti! I laughed at your Lucille Ball duck, but you’re right. And while you are anticipating signs of spring, I’m watching the touches of autumn creep in (it’s been happening for over a month)- the yellows and reds coming in the trees. Not looking forward to it I must say.
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Louise,
What a wonder, never thought of autumn while I’m all expectant of spring. Your winter won’t be as fierce as ours, and I’m sure your fall must be beautiful. I look forward to seeing some fantastic pictures! 😉
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More beautiful photography. The blue tones are brilliant.
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Nicola,
Here in southern Alberta we have the sun, well most of the time, even in winter. I consider that a true blessing. Thanks for stopping by. 😉
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Signs of spring must be very welcome, from what I’ve see it’s been a long cold winter. 17C isn’t too bad though, that’s about a normal winters day here in Perth 🙂 Love your images today, the ducks seem to be reveling in the slightly warmer temps.. j’adore the Merganser duck, her hair looks a little like mine this morning, disheveled! Happy week Arti.
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Grace,
I’d love to see what your winter looks like… 17C for ‘normal’ winter day is very comfortable indeed. For some reasons when I click on your name, it doesn’t lead me to your website. Could you check on that? I’d love to see what Perth is like, in all seasons. 😉
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Mme. Merganser does indeed look like Lucy and I love that you saw that in her! (Or him). I do wish you an early spring. Your winters are usually longer and colder than ours and I believe you started earlier! It’s your time to see that beauty emerge soon!
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Jeanie,
That Lucy Duck is a female Merganser. I think she can definitely inspire a trend of hairstyle.
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I hope that duck inspires a hairstyle trend! Since mine is curly and has a tendency to frizz I’m already almost there! 😉
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I thought Lucy D. has already started the ‘roll-out-of-bed’ hairstyle trend. 😉
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Look at you all warm and melty! We’ve been in the deep freeze for the last several weeks. It’s been so cold that we are all very excited the forecast is predicting 40F/4.4C for this coming Saturday. It is bound to feel heavenly! 🙂
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We’re having a ‘cold spell’ these couple of days with wind and snow. But temp. remains at about 20F or so during day time, which is very bearable for us. And later on this week, it will reach 50F. So, yeah, winter has been great so far other than the early snowstorm last September.
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