The Missus and I were running an errand when we passed a pond. My eye was caught by what appeared to be a duck with ducklings swimming in it. We parked nearby and I got out to look closer. Indeed, there was a domestic Muscovy duck with three ducklings.
There are three ducklings in this shot. The third is less than obvious. Halfway between the two obvious duckings there are two small sticks creating an X. The buff-colored spot just behind it is duckling #3.
This picture, however, has a lot tragedy built in. In the road directly across from this pond was the body of a male mallard. Mallards and domestic Muscovies frequently mate, so it is likely that it was the mate/father of these.
It is also December and winter is just a few days away. Temperatures will be dropping and food will be getting scare. The little ones are going to have a very rough time growing up.
