Ducks in a row . . .

Each month our dance group has a potluck business meeting that is really more like lots of food followed by a short announcement of upcoming dances and events, usually a humorous song, then games like Mexican Train, Pinochle, and Rummy Cube.  In the summer; however, there is an extra event -- a rubber duck race in a small stream.  Ducks and other items of all sizes congregate and wait the magic moment when they are swept into the stream and the race to the finish line starts.  The large ducks often get stuck under the low bridges but that is offset by the small ducks getting entangled in the grass and weeds along the sides of the stream.  One person has to stand with a garden rake to dislodge the stuck ducks and another person is positioned at the finish line to catch the ducks as they rush past so none are lost forever downstream.  Usually the race is over much too soon and a second or third race is suggested to see if the results are the same.

Mr. Buttons

This year we had a special duck to enter in the race, Mr. Buttons.  When we stayed at the Classic Hotel Wien in Vienna, Austria we noticed that they were selling rubber ducks called Mr. Buttons.  This duck looked like a bellboy complete with suitcase and cute red cap.  We approached the desk and explained that we wanted to buy a duck to enter in the duck race.  This announcement was met with disbelief at first then much laughter.  We were given the duck at no cost with the request to send photos of the race to the hotel, hence this little report complete with pictures and our thanks to the wonderful hotel staff.

The contestants lined up for a photo shoot before the race begins.

The spectators enjoying a picnic before the races

Ducks in a row--the contestants begin to line up

And they’re off . . .

For a while it looked like the big duck wearing sunglasses would win but then . . .

Low bridge!  The big duck is stuck and the little ones are trying to get past . . .

And the winner is . . .  Mr. Buttons!

From left to right as they cross the finish line . . .

Note:  

This was the second race.  Mr. Buttons placed 2nd in the first race – the mini marshmallow won.  The marshmallow had shrunk in size and finished fourth or fifth in the 2nd race then it escaped downstream never to be seen again.
 
Also this race is much smaller than the Quincy, California rubber duck race held at family reunions on Spanish Creek where ducks are decorated ahead of the race by both children and adults then taken upstream and let go.   All the attendees wait at the cabin cheering on favorites and watching to see which one will cross the finish line first.  That race is also held in July but we missed it this year.  There have been controversial winners, at least on one occasion. 

Winter afternoon with the ducks

Ducks just off the east point of Union Bay

Saturday I noticed a post in one of the local neighborhood blogs concerning the sightings of a rare Tudu Eurasian tufted duck in the water near the wetlands by the Urban Horticultural Center at Union Bay. The duck was seen on Friday and then again on Saturday when the notice appeared in the Wedgewood blog. For a picture of the Tudu, please see http://www.wedgwoodview.com/

I texted Mrs. Gimlet since we had about an hour before sunset and Union Bay is close. We decided to go. The duck was supposed to be swimming off the east point of the Montlake fill (Union Bay) so it would be easy to park at the Urban Horticultural Center and walk a little way to the lake. The blog said all we would have to do once there was to find the group of birders and blend in. We tried. There were a few people clustered along the shoreline with binoculars, tripods and cameras but the duck was either gone for the day or out so far in the lake we couldn’t get a look at him. We had neglected to bring binoculars (silly us) and even Mrs. G’s fancy telephoto lens was not quite big enough to zoom in on the “barge” of ducks out in the lake. I'm not sure "barge" is the correct term but that is what it looked like. It was a pretty good test for my new little digital camera. Sadly it does not have the zoom lens capacity that my big, heavy old EOS Canon film camera does but it does take good photos. I did over hear someone mention that the duck had been away from the main group but even so it would have been very difficult to pick him out.

To make matters worse a clueless Kayaker paddled by sending the ducks and coots quacking, hooting and flying then resettling even further out in the bay. We stayed until the sun started setting and then left intending to come back with binoculars in the next day or two if the weather held. But today is Monday and we haven’t gone back yet.

In addition to the normal group of Mallards and coots there were Widgeons, Golden eyes, Mergansers, and a few geese. The sign at the beginning of the trail said a swan had been sighted earlier. We will walk down there again even if there is no hope of seeing the elusive Tudu since it is quite a pretty place and a very nice walk on a sunny day.

“Barge” of ducks and coots moving further out into the bay.

The Mountain is out!

Part of the wetlands trail

We heard lots of Red-wing blackbirds but didn’t see any. There were crows but we didn’t see many of those either just the few in the sky of this picture. Right around sunset the crows often fly to a common roosting area. It is quite the experience to see them, hundreds it seems, flying together and making such a racket.

Robin taking a rest on the porch

I had to come home to see a bird close up enough to get a picture with my new camera. Just a robin but made me feel that winter may be turning a corner toward Spring.