Getting the ducks in a row

This is one of our resident merganser ducks, looking for lunch.   Like loons, these fishing birds will duck their heads underwater to check for fish.  They prefer shallow waters, and when they are here with their ducklings, the water will literally boil in a feeding frenzy. I've linked this to a short video in an earlier post, so you can see what I mean.

Strikingly handsome birds, with long serrated bills that let them grab a fish easily, they already have their babies out and swimming.  This one was all by herself however.  Well...not quite.  She was hanging out with a mallard drake by Anchor cottage.  There were two families of Canada geese just the other side of the dock. 

And there was Taffy... who was determined to get her ducks in a row.  Not an easy task.  The ducks, for their part in this, were completely unimpressed by Taffy channelling her inner water-retriever.  The merganser continued to hunt for fish, keeping about ten feet ahead of the dog at all times.

Very determined, Taffy kept following along. I suddenly realized that my dog was in the lake, without a lifejacket, and with no adult supervision. She was in the care of an uncaring duck, who was quite willing to lead the poodle deeper and deeper, farther and farther from the shore. 

It took a little bribing, a little coaxing... and me getting ready to go in an fetch the dog -- which is a bit of a switch from the dog fetching the duck or the stick.  You can see in this picture the duck is still hunting for fish.  Poodles don't count as part of the dinner menu.

Taffy had a brilliant time.  We just have to keep an eye on her now, with all the ducks, ducklings, geese and goslings luring her out into the water.  And the water is wonderful -- who would not want to go for a swim?  And at least for a short moment, she truly did succeed in getting all her ducks in a row.