Walking on water

Wherever new buildings rise in Copenhagen, canals and ponds are sure to follow. We like water in our cities in Denmark, maybe because we're used to having water around us all the time from an early age. Denmark is after all a country with a couple of thousands islands, and there's nowhere that is further away from the sea than an hours drive at most.

The Wild Duck Chase

The beginning of the wild duck chase from yesterday was here; trouble was brewing in the local duck pond as the mallards were trying to see who was the strongest and best. It is springtime after all...

Low Flying

I know, this photo is blurry and out of focus, but I like it anyway, mainly because of the surprise when I saw it on the screen and realized I'd captured just the right wings of the three mallards. I'd been out shooting in the local park when I saw these three ducks chase each other all over so I started panning and shooting, getting quite a few photos of trees, bushes and the occasional duck in flight. The result was nowhere near what 'd hoped, except for this one.

A Fast Duckling

The first of the ducklings has already been hatched and they are out discovering the new dangerous world. This one had been adventuring a bit too much so Mother Duck was out of sight, and then the scary photographer came. Needless to say the family was soon reunited.

Almost like an angel

This black-headed gull landing among the mallards is almost like an angel visiting. It's behavior later suggested that it sure wasn't an angel as it fought for food.

Take-off

Well fed after it's fight for a slice of pizza this herring gull is cleared for take-off from the duck pond. The rest of the birds in this watering hole probably won't miss it.

More fighting

I'm glad that I'm not a herring gull as this one do seem not to like the others very much. Why didn't they just gang up on it to get rid of it?

The bully of the duck pond

Yesterdays photo showed a herring gull in what could have been some kind of dance. Today's photos show a different story. I'd captured the local young bully in this duckpond, a young herring gull doing it's best to scare all other gulls and ducks away. Tomorrow I'll show you the reason for this anti-social behavior.

Fight in the watering hole

In the few ice-free ponds and lakes space is at a premium so a lot of small dramas can be observed here. These two mallards were not exactly best mates, so one had to find a new place to get the feet wet.

Like a duck in water

This mallard really likes to be in water. The "show" went on for 10 minutes or so in Valbyparken, a park in Copenhagen.

Fighting for food

When visiting the parks of Copenhagen you'll actually notice how much wildlife that has adapted to city life. Especially the birds enjoy the availably food. From time to time they have to fight for it though like this duck that tries to escape an attack from a couple of sea gulls. It did get away with its bread ... this time.

How to catch a duck

In the duck pond you can catch a rubber duck (and no, it's not the one from Convoy) with a magnet. A sure hit for children or childish adults. Another one of the many money making stalls in Tivoli.