Once again today, for the third time, a particular couple of ducks - let's call them "Mr. and Mrs. Mallard" - appeared in my front yard.

 

The past two times were within the past year, and both during neighborhood irrigation watering times. Natural that ducks might like the irrigation water, though in the 40 plus years I have lived in this part of town, I have never seen wild ducks in a neighborhood setting, aside from these recent visits. Today was especially surprising, because we are in between our bi-monthly irrigation times, and the yards are all dry.

 

People going by ask, "Are those your ducks?" They seem almost tame, so it is a fair question. But they are not tame. Always keeping just out of reach, they do not let anyone touch them. And, they always depart in the same direction, back to the nearby canal system, after they have done whatever it is they have come to do.

 

Today was special also because of the amusing interactions I had with them!

 

For example, while they always come very close to me, this time, Mrs. Mallard would catch the bread I tossed to her right out of the air into her beak, at least when my aim was just right! Also, while I directed a broad spray of hose water over them, and they drenched themselves in the shower of it, they also twisted their necks around so as to drink the droplets of water running off their backs! They also gobbled the falling droplets directly from the air.

 

They took two such baths today. At the second, about an hour after the first, Mrs. Mallard came in very close and thrust herself directly under the water spraying past my thumb at the end of the hose. They really seemed to enjoy this hose bathing!

 

The last time they came, a couple of weeks ago when we had irrigation in the yard, they had mated right in the water. This time, Mr. Mallard hardly ate a piece of my bread. He stood an attentive watch as she gobbled up two full pieces, her crop becoming engorged.

 

We got lots of picture of all of this, once again.

 

After about a two hour visit, they abruptly turned, walked back across the yard, then flew away, low over the street, suddenly banking high up and to the left, just as they had before. They did not leave for fear of anything. But, it seems, because the sun was going down, and they had eaten enough bread and water, had more than their regular daily baths, and had apparently visited me again just long enough.