Who knew that below these bluffs, a bluffing contest would break out? Meet the harlequins, Harley and his girlfriend, Quinn.

Hey, wait up, Quinn! Want to go sit on this rock for a while? Catch a few rays?

Oh, Harley, this is so boring. And all you ever want to do is take a nap. I need more excitement in my life. Speaking of which, I think I see some arriving, over my shoulder. But three to one … I don’t know….

Back off, boys. She’s mine.

And you two can get off this rock and go join your buddy, or you’ll see what I’m capable of. I’m not bluffing.

Did you see that, Quinn? See how I put the run on them? Now come on. You stick with me.
Okay, Harley, so I was impressed … but just a little bit.

Harley! You’re such a brute. Don’t you know a lady doesn’t like to get splashed? You’ll ruin my feather track.

Sorry, ’bout that, Quinn. Here, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll find you a crustacean for an appetizer. They’re right under here in this shallow part. See them, there, on the bottom?

Well, if you want to get it for me, Harley, go for it, but I’ll have you know I am not a bottom feeder.
Harley loved his girlfriend, Quinn,
Stood by her through thick and thin,
But the bully boys came ’round
Asking where his Quinn was bound.
“Nowhere special, just these rocks,”
Up they scrambled, all these jocks,
Harley shivered and he shook,
Quinn gave him a frightened look.
“Fear not, Quinny,” Harley said,
“We’re just fine, I’ll use my head.”
And with that, he butted them
Off the rocks, to save his femme.
“Now my dear,” he said to Quinn,
“Let’s go swimming, jump right in,
I’ve a rock crab just for you,
Tender so you need not chew.”
“How delicious is this treat?
Little rock crabs can’t be beat,
Harley Baby, you’re my man,
I am now your biggest fan.”
Please visit my other blog for all things writing related. Anneli’s Place
November 1, 2020 at 1:36 pm
This is so fun to read, Anneli! Beautiful photos too, wow. 🥰😊
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November 1, 2020 at 1:37 pm
An afternoon at the beach yesterday. Rare sunshine too!
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November 1, 2020 at 2:15 pm
Lol how cute! The poem fits perfectly. Beautiful male birds.
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November 1, 2020 at 3:59 pm
They do have colourful plumage. The fisherman in the house is eyeing the feathers for fly tying ….
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November 1, 2020 at 2:49 pm
Beautiful
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November 1, 2020 at 3:58 pm
That’s your brother’s hometown, right? Time for a visit? After the borders open.
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November 1, 2020 at 5:18 pm
Yes!
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November 1, 2020 at 3:27 pm
So cute, Anneli!
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November 1, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Thanks, Jill. It was a beautiful afternoon.
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November 1, 2020 at 3:27 pm
I swear you channel animals perfectly. Lovely.
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November 1, 2020 at 3:57 pm
Thanks, Jacqui. My mother told me from when we were little that the animals were talking to us, if we would just listen.
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November 1, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Adorable. And great photos. 🙂
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November 1, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Thank you, Lynette. I hope you’re not freezing up there. I almost feel guilty for having such a pleasant sunny afternoon the other day. Keep warm.
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November 1, 2020 at 9:01 pm
Never feel guilty about that! I enjoy seeing your photos. 🙂 I’m not freezing yet as it’s still only about -5 or 4. By the end of this month it will be getting serious though.
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November 1, 2020 at 10:43 pm
Brrr. I’ve turned into a wimp.
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November 1, 2020 at 6:50 pm
Fantastic!
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November 1, 2020 at 7:01 pm
Thank you, Pit. I hope you get some much-needed rain.
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November 2, 2020 at 12:25 am
Beautiful pictures and a fun poem!
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November 2, 2020 at 7:48 am
Thank you, Ursula. It was the first time I could get close enough to these ducks and not have them take off farther out of reach.
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November 2, 2020 at 10:08 am
Another beautiful picture story Anneli. Do you think of the story while clicking the pictures or do you come up with it once you have clicked all the pictures? Just curious.
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November 2, 2020 at 11:04 am
Usually I look at the pictures (at home) in the sequence I took them and the story is right there. In this case, I think the case of defending his girl is pretty close to what was happening. In some of the pictures, the body language suggests what they might be thinking or saying and for the rest … anything goes, and that’s where the fun begins. Thanks for your comment, Deepa. I hadn’t really thought about this until you asked.
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November 2, 2020 at 1:21 pm
A fine duck tale. Handsome ducks, nice shots.
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November 2, 2020 at 2:07 pm
Thank you. Do you have harlequins near where you live, Belinda?
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November 3, 2020 at 5:18 am
I wish we did. I think they can by found on the East Coast but not around here.
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November 2, 2020 at 1:40 pm
And hopefully they’ll live happily ever after!
They are pretty ducks. Think I saw the odd one in the Rockies.
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November 2, 2020 at 2:11 pm
They are a sea duck, Adele, so maybe what you saw was a ruddy duck or a wood duck. They have similar bright colouring.
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November 2, 2020 at 2:54 pm
The birds are fantastic! I love their markings. Cute poem to go with the incredibly beautiful photos too!
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November 2, 2020 at 6:30 pm
Thanks, Sonja. I felt lucky to be near to where they were hanging out and managed to get quite a few chances at pictures. Their name comes from a colourfully dressed character in the Commedia dell ‘arte (an Italian comedy form) – the harlequin (like the joker on the cards). Lots of colour on these ducks.
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November 9, 2020 at 1:37 pm
You made such a lovely story from your images, great work!
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November 9, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Thank you so much.
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