The local estuary is looking something like a Roman bath house.
The customers flock to the baths for their daily constitutional. The Canada geese are taking advantage of the safety of the tide being out some distance from the road nearby, while they still have the water for an escape from any people or animals approaching by land. Worst case, they can fly away.
But the day is warm and they are comfortable. They are hard at work preening their feathers, nibbling away parasites, and splatters of grit and goo after dipping their bills in the greasy uropygial gland on top of their back end at the base of their tail to smear a little Goose Brylcreem onto their feathers. This also helps with waterproofing. Having not a feather out of place improves the aerodynamics when they fly.
Even the mergansers are busy preening. She doesn’t seem to care that she has a “man” on either side of her, watching her tidy up.
Everyone is seriously on task.
But this one must have plans to go camping and maybe do a bit of trout fishing. See her testing her newly cleaned wings?
While you are waiting for my next post, why not check out one of my five novels? Just click on the cover of the books at the side of this post. Or you can visit my website: anneli-purchase.com
June 8, 2019 at 1:20 pm
Very busy group … er, I mean flock.
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June 8, 2019 at 2:48 pm
At least we know they’re keeping clean.
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June 8, 2019 at 2:19 pm
I always enjoy watching birds preen themselves. Have a good trip, Anneli.
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June 8, 2019 at 2:47 pm
Thanks, Jill. I hope my camera will get a good workout.
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June 8, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Enjoy your time away!
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June 8, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Thanks, Laura. Just a few days of “glamping.”
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June 9, 2019 at 4:41 am
Delightful post and great photos, Anneli.
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June 9, 2019 at 8:14 am
Thanks, Jennie. I was actually looking to see if the “odd couple” (the domestic goose and the Canada goose) were still there, but I didn’t see them. Found all the preeners instead.
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June 9, 2019 at 12:37 pm
😀
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June 9, 2019 at 7:54 am
Beautiful to watch, isn’t it?
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June 9, 2019 at 8:13 am
It is, and I found it interesting that so many of them were preening all at the same time. Conditions must have been right for it.
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June 9, 2019 at 10:11 am
Another enjoyable, informative “nature” blog on bir d preening and the importance for waterproofing, de-licing, not a feather out of place for flying well. We have quail in our yard this week, across the road from you.
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June 9, 2019 at 10:50 am
Yes, I heard them in our hedge this morning. First time in years!!
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June 9, 2019 at 3:10 pm
Birds of a feather preen together. Enjoy your time away.
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June 9, 2019 at 3:23 pm
Thanks, Belinda. I hope to get a few pics on the way.
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June 10, 2019 at 6:17 am
Beautiful pictures Anneli! Enjoy your time out! I am looking forward to all the pictures after your trip already!
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June 10, 2019 at 6:52 am
TY, Ursula. I hope to have more pics to show you soon.
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June 10, 2019 at 8:02 am
Wonderful post and loved the closing line. I may adopt that!
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June 11, 2019 at 4:46 pm
You know so much about birds, Anneli. And are so good at photographing them. I never have anything in hand to shoot a pic with when I see a bird I want to photograph (boo).
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June 13, 2019 at 12:01 pm
Wonderful to see the bird activity here, Anneli, in your narrative and beautiful photos. Funny how they are all so busy preening at the same time. And great that you got the mergansers in there too.
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June 14, 2019 at 12:42 pm
It’s just too bad they are all such distance shots. More than my camera can make up for. But at least we get the “action.” Thanks for visiting.
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October 29, 2019 at 9:10 pm
Nice pun in the title!
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October 29, 2019 at 9:51 pm
😉 Thank you.
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