Good Morning

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Unknown Duck 17.04 (5)

First of all: question of the day. Can anyone out there tell me what sort of duck this is. I was sitting on my favourite bench next to the river yesterday waiting for something to happen for my camera. It was not a warm day, although I was dressed warmly enough. I had the zoom lens on the camera, ready for anything. The swans always congregate on the opposite side of the river, but there were no swans, not even a mallard duck. They were probably all nesting somewhere. It is that time of the year.

And then I saw this one. He was approaching and I was ready for the photo(s). He then took a dive in the river and appeared about a minute later. He repeated this process until he had reached my bench level, so I took my photos – about 10 of them. I had never seen a duck like this before with the mohican hair cut, Probably nothing special, but it was for me.

There were very few people taking walks along the river yesterday, more cyclists and joggers, but I did not mind. I had wrote a short blog and was thinking about it and then decided to go. I had not been out with the camera for a few days, and decided it was time. I was seeping into a sort of Easter lethargy, and just laying around at home.

Sheep 17.04 (2)

I mounted the steps to the top of the river bank and looked to see if there were any sheep around. The last time I saw them they were all cuddled together in their shed. This time they had advanced to the outside, but were still cuddled together. I suppose when their coats have been removed they feel the cold more and like to keep together for warmth. The chief sheep, the one with the bell around its neck, looked up as I stood there with the camera and some of the others joined in. They realised I had the zoom lens, so did not have to get nearer. They were the lucky sheep, the ones that did not have to play easter lamb. I think the farmer only has them as a hobby. Switzerland is not really sheep country, although there are a few herds roaming in the mountains I believe.

River Aar 17.04 (11)

When I reached the top of the bank, after climbing the 69 steps, I took a rest on the bench at the top. Yes, I know where all my benches are. This photo was a view to the other side of the river and I noticed that already the rapeseed was flowering. Spring hits you quickly. It all starts with a forsythia bush and suddenly you have crops.

I decided it was time to wind my way home and to be quite honest my dinner of boiled bacon was playing up on me. When I arrived home I was not feeling so good, but after taking tablets, three of them within 4 hours, things calmed down. I decided to leave an evening meal not wanting to confuse my digestive system more. Everything eventually settled down and I must say I had a good nights rest.

My photo programme, Flickr, was also playing up again yesterday, but after consulting the forum site, I realised it was playing up all over the world with the complaints that people could not upload their photos and constantly getting “time out” reports. It is not the first time this has happened and I really thing they should get their act together at last, as I really wanted these photos online. In the meanwhile I saved them all on my two external disks. This morning I had a quick look and saw that everything was functioning normally again, so quickly uploaded the photos on the Flickr site and my computer.

This morning the bulders were programmed for their arrival, but are not yet here. I am not sorry. It is full of suspense, something like waiting for Godot, so we hope they arrive eventually.

Mr. Swiss has to see his doc this morning and there are one or two things to get in the supermarket. I will be almost back to normal with my programme. See you around later when I am more awake and ready to go. At least the sun is shining.

24 thoughts on “Good Morning”

    • Thanks for the info. I am no expert on ducks but the first thought I had was Grebe, although I had never seen one before. He was certainly something completely different and spent most of his swimming time diving.

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  4. Great photos. You had quite a walk yesterday. No wonder you finished tired. I like your strange duck Is a crested grebe duck. It dives to catch fishes for food. It seems that is not so easy to take pics of them so you have a good set of photos. Congrats.

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    • The actual walking time was not more than my usual 30 minutes with a couple of bench stops. The grebe was the only duck on the river, so I made the most of it . They certainly love to dive.

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    • It is a great crested grebe. the first I have ever seen and never expected to see one sailing down our local River Aar. Although anything with big webbed feet is a duck for me.

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  6. OK, I’m too late – my first thought was: Hubetaucherli….. great crested grebe [zool.]…… and obviously everybody else thought the same! There we go 🙂
    Such pretty pictures; I really start to like your home town!

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  7. Btw; ‘Taucherli’ means ‘dipping in’… they certainly love doing that – and popping up far away somewhere nobody is looking for them
    They are real fun to watch and I enjoyed myself many times with small children – where has it gone now? who can find it first?

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  8. I think it’s the European Shag (in England, just “shag”) with his mating plumage in place. I know everyone has settled on Great Crested Grebe, but he is the wrong colors. Grebes are not black. There were once a lot more cormorants, but they were hunted to almost extinction and are only recently coming back.

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    • Will have a look. According to what I read the grebes were almost wiped out for their head feathers. Apparently they were wanted for hats and other accessories. I read that they were eventually put under protection and have now been saved.

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