Newly hatched Canadian goose, Sudbury, MA (c) DE Wolf 2016.

I was busy yesterday morning, so I didn’t get out for my walk at the Wildlife Refuge until around 2 pm. To my amazement, and despite the midday hour, there was lots of wildlife to be seen. There were cedar waxwings and red-winged black birds. Down by the pond it was like a nature documentary. The tree swallows soar dexterously and gracefully over the lake. I saw a beaver, and four great blue herons were there to entertain.

What I had hoped for was newly hatched Canadian geese (Branta canadensis), and I wasn’t disappointed. There were clusters of them, I guess more accurately gaggles. swimming along with “proud parents,” if I am allowed to anthropomorphize. I watched one group cross the road and there was one straggler, who was distracted by peckable items in the mud and he seemed very sleepy. Mom and dad hit the water, but he just sat, as if snoozing in the middle of the path, which is where I photographed him. I was wondering what would happen next and also a bit worried about what would happen if I got between the birds and their baby. Finally the two adult birds started honking in unison. It was a different vocalization than the usual duck calls. Finally the little yellow fuzz ball realized that he become separated from the group and raced first across land and then water to rejoin his parents and siblings.

Canon T2i with EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens, ISO 1600, Aperture Priority AE Mode 1/4000th sec at F/7.1 with no exposure compensation.