Canada Geese Taking Flight
Just after sunrise on Valentine’s Day, I watched a skein of Canada Geese fly into and land in the still-shaded waters of Cambridge Creek.
They slowly swam their way up to and past me, coming to the creek’s end. The sun was now high enough to lighten up the water, giving awesome reflection opportunities.
Canada Goose
Canada Geese
The sail boat masts and piers were reflecting cool patterns around them as the water got brighter and a slight breeze kicked up.
Canada Geese
Unable to go any further, the stopped geese looked around and at each other.
Then the loud honking began.
Plans were discussed.
An agreement was made.
And then their take-off started.
I’ve seen this scenario so many times. But this time, instead of locking on and following several as they took off, I stood camera-steady and held down my shutter button, surprisingly getting 14 images before my camera and battery said, “enough, we need to catch up!”
The Canada Geese efforts as well as their flight and water patterns that developed were pretty cool and I thought enjoyable to share.
To see these best, click on the first image to follow through the sequence.
Canada Geese taking flight
Did you notice the pair of Ruddy Ducks in the top left corner of the photos? Luckily, they didn’t get run over! 😊
I love these photos Donna! Great sequences as they push against the water for liftoff. ☺️❤️😎
Thank you, John! They do pretty fancy feet work getting their 6-20 lb. bodies up in the air! 🙂
Wouldn’t it be great fun to fly? 😎
Oh yes it would! 🙂
These are incredible pictures. And, I love how you described the experience. 😊
Thank you, Diane! I am very happy you enjoyed it all. 😊
Nice reflections! On the last photos, if you click your mouse fast enough you can almost see them running across the water. 🙂
Thank you, David! Hey, that’s pretty neat! 🙂
Donna, these are beautiful! I love the reflections in the still shots and the water and wave patterns are terrific in the takeoff shots. I always enjoy hearing the large groups of geese in our cove as they chatter among each other no doubt discussing which groups will take off first, and to where. They never do it quietly! Thanks for sharing! We are headed to Lake Merritt today and I’ll be looking for greater AND lesser scaups.
Thank you, Susan! They do have a meeting of minds with all that honking they do, lol. Hope you’re lucky at Lake Merritt and the weather’s been great!
It was a good piece of advice to click on the pictures and follow the sequence. What fun.
Thank you, Tom, RPRT with great lighting, it was a lot of fun. And noisy!
Very nice Donna! Wonderful light, reflections and movement.
Thank you, Belinda!
Superb photos, Donna!
Thank you, Terry!
Beautiful light/reflections and love the action shots, quite interesting to see that from a wide angle. Tell them not to come north yet, too darn cold!
Thank you, Jane! I’ll put the word out to them! 🙂
Amazing series. And I am glad the ruddy ducks remained “untouched” by the great take-off 😀 😀
Thank you, Takami! They were ‘lucky ducks’! 😊
You have caught the light so beautifully Donna on the geese, as well as the reflections, well done!
Thank you, Ashley! 😊
Those ripples they make are really something! 🙂
I thought the patterns were pretty cool too! 🙂
Brilliant. I love the sequence and some of the awkward looking poses are amusing. I had to run through several times for the great effect. Now I need to go back to look for the Ruddy Duck! 😀
Thank you, Gunta! Yep, some of them got their mouths open, honking away too, lol. The two Ruddy Ducks were in the very top left corner of the photos. They watched the action too. 🙂
Wonderful series and reflections. Thank you, Donna.
The noise of the flapping and water splashing was pretty amazing too. 🙂 Thank you, Isabel, and you’re welcome!
I loved the “Splashing Derby”! Thank you Donna! 🙂
Thank you, HJ, love the comment! 🙂