At the pond today, I wondered about the fragility in nature. Only yesterday afternoon, I was admiring the reflections of the clouds in water.
Today, the clouds were ominous and pounding rain drove down in the SE from eleven o’clock in the morning and on into late afternoon. The two Ruddy ducklings are all that seemed to have hatched. I have no idea what happens to the population of eggs as tended by all of the other Ruddy partners that edge the pond. Are they all lost?
I captured a marvelous series of a red finch feasting on one of the plants…the red was very intense, given that the bird honestly seemed to be soaked through. I’ve taken some photographs of the edge of the pond to show it’s evolution over the past week…if my readers look at the cat tails, they will get a good idea of how high the water is today.
Mr. is trying to find a place to hide. There are no fewer than 15 male and 15 female Ruddy Ducks that edge the pond. Only one female has been seen the past week, with two little guys and they are successfully diving and having a grand time, even through all of this unreasonable amount of rain.
Mrs. with soccer ball. It’s atrocious, now that the water level is so high, just how much human waste and plastic floats on the water. It made me sad today.
This is the Grebe nest as it appeared today. I’ve posted several photographs of this nest this past spring. The other nest, on the opposite side of the pond, is completely submerged today.
Well…the rain brought these two around again today. I’ve never had my camera with me when I’ve spotted them and while these aren’t great photographs because of the conditions, I’m glad I have them documented.
Black-necked Stilt (Recurvirostridae)
Himantopus mexicanus
L: 14″
This is a very distinctive black and white shorebird. It has a long, thin black bill and either pink or red legs and feet. This bird is common in the marsh environment.
Here is one female Ruddy Duck with her offspring. These two youngsters are so much fun to watch because already, they make wonderful divers!
His feathers, plastered against his body, I could not help but document the process this male House Finch went through to pull apart segments of this plant. Surprisingly, he wasn’t concerned about my presence and just worked feverishly.
Site occupied by another of the Coot families and the successfully hatched Ruddy Ducks. Much plastic floating on this corner of the pond.
The cat tails are submerged, as is the rock shoulder of the pond. The bush that I have documented since October 13 is partially submerged in water.
This wee one feels water logged and exhausted. 
Female Ruddy Duck on the north edge of the pond.