Tenderness!

After a swim in the lake, this brood of ducks hit the bank and immediately decided it was siesta time. The mother mallard duck stood over her brood until they were all sound asleep and then she decided to lay down also. But when she sat right down on one of her babies, she immediately tried to nudge the little one out from under her body. It didn't seem to mind as it continued to sleep through the whole ordeal.

                                                     Nikon D90 75mm at 1/500s    f5.3   ISO 400      (Click for a larger view)                                   

"A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them."

Victor Hugo(1802-1885):  A French Poet, Playwright, Novelist, Essayist, Statesman      

Beauty Created!

No matter what your passions may be, you can't look at this baby mallard duckling and not see a thing of beauty. Don't you just want to pick up this little fuzz ball and just cuddle it for a while?

                                        Nikon D90   300mm at 1/500s   f5.6      ISO 1400     (Click for a larger view) 

"Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art."

         Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1882): American lecturer, essayist and poet.

Look Into My Eyes!

Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

Hunters of all kinds work tirelessly at creating and finding the perfect camouflage to better conceal themsleves in the woods. Well I hate to tell  you guys but God designed the best camouflage ever made. The colors and patterns of this female Mallard Duck help it to blend in perfectly with the grass in which it usually nest. Amid the tones of browns blending together, this shot just pulls you to look into the eyes! The eyes are the only spot that stand out a little bit from the rest of the body.

"Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts"
            Albert Einstein (1879-1955): German born American Physicist