Quiet Time

A young male Mallard - his breast feathers beginning to turn into that familiar reddish-chestnut brown hue - and the signature curlicue tail feather starting to form - takes a few minutes to grab some R&R in a quiet nook of the duck pond. When photographing him, I concentrated on composition and exposure; only later did I discover the reflections of his plumage, the play of natural light on his feathers, the ripples he created in the water, and Nature's contribution of mirrored sky and overhanging leaves. So natural, so peaceful, so quiet, calm and so ....ahhhhhhhh. But for all that, he still has one eye watching me . . . .who are you? What do I . . . ? What do you . . . .? I wish I could speak duck!