Hunter or Hunted?

Geese and ducks of all sorts are pretty much peaking right now in their migration activity. At any given time, you can first hear the trumpeting up above, then the characteristic V-shaped body passes overhead, sometimes only a few geese, sometimes so many that you can't count, and then they're gone. I've been trying to capture that moment of take off, or at least a close enough shot of them in flight, but I don't seem to be in the right place at the right time. I'm going to keep trying, at least until it snows. They may be elusive, and sure, they can fly, but I'm stubborn :).

I came across a man-made pond this weekend, behind a school and right in the middle of a suburb. I had seen geese in that general area before, but didn't realize the size of this pond. It was surprisingly big, down in a crater-type depression, and well hidden on 3 sides with weeds and grasses. Although it was nippy and breezier than it has been, I was dressed for it, and ready to wait as long as I had to. I took the few ducks paddling around as a good omen. So I waited. And I waited. I took photos rather aimlessly, deleting most on the spot, then realized my surroundings were really far more interesting that I had first thought. In fact, the longer I was there, and the colder I got, the more downright fascinating it was. By the time a handful of geese finally did make their arrival, I was quite happily wrapped up in my little "macro world".







These two ducks persisted in remaining close enough and long enough that I did oblige and took a couple of pictures anyway. I didn't want to hurt their feelings by letting on it was really the geese I was hunting ... they seemed satisfied after a few shots, and swam away.







While I was busy entertaining myself, I got the feeling, fleeting at first, then stronger, that I was being watched, and watched very carefully. After looking around a little more closely, this is what I found in the bushes. A day of unexpected surprises!