Anserine Astonishment

Lens Artists Photo Challenge #384 – What Astonishes You?

This lovely challenge was created by Beth of Wandering Dawgs:

“What have you seen or experienced that has astonished you? The challenge is to include photos about things that astonish you and tell us why you are astonished.  I got the inspiration for this challenge from these words by Mary Oliver from her poem “Sometimes”:

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention
Be astonished
Tell about it^†

‘Though I’d taken photographs my entire life (Dad gave me one of his cast-off cameras at about age 5), in 2005 we moved from Toronto to Cobourg, I purchased a pass for Presqu’ile Provincial Park and, almost immediately, my passion for wildlife photography was ignited.  Soon thereafter, I was fortunate to be able to take a wildlife photography course at Trent University.  

My chief take-away from that course was that, to be successful, one has to choose a location, walk into it quietly and with as little fuss and noise as possible, settle and wait.  The critters’ initial reaction is to “run and hide” but, I truly believe, they are as curious about us as we are about them.  Given time, they will cautiously venture out, getting ever closer and that’s when the magic happens.  Keeping your camera on silent mode, you are able to snap away, getting the very best shots of your creature.  It is also incredibly intimate, especially when the animal/bird/amphibian/reptile ventures very close.  Those intimate moments never fail to astonish me.  

Today’s images and narrative are of just such an encounter, 11th May 2022 at the lagoon at Presqu’ile.  

This beautiful interlude began whilst I was sitting on a picnic table making some camera adjustments.  The gander, alone, swam past me into the end of the lagoon, back out again, and then repeated the pattern.  Canada geese are a dime a dozen so I honestly thought nothing of it, but I did snag a quick shot.  

Then, very slowly, cautiously, and with Dad taking the lead, my gander returned with his family in tow, and Mum bringing up the rear:

They paddled right past me, all the way to the end of the lagoon where, with Dad in the lead again, they got out of the water.  When they reached the driveway, Dad stopped, Mum walked the kiddos across the driveway onto the grass, whilst Dad waited on the straggler (there’s always one, isn’t there?):

At this point, they’re still about 200 yards away from me and I’ve not moved a muscle (except to press the remote shutter release).  I was just beginning to think that was it for this story and this family when Dad made a bit of a squawk and began walking towards me, never once taking his eyes off me.  I fancifully imagined that he wanted to show off his brood.

The goslings, clearly excited and feeling emboldened, began to rush ahead of Dad towards me:

Now they’re a mere 20 yards away and I’m scared to even breathe for fear of frightening them off.  My quiescence was rewarded when, at some unknown (to me) signal from Mum and Dad, the kiddos began to strut about, munching on sweet new shoots, and exploring to their hearts’ content.  They were comical, trying to strut gracefully like their parents but failing entirely — there were a handful of clumsy stumbles on the uneven ground.  

But then my absolutely magical moment happened.  Three of the goslings came very close to the picnic table (less than 10 feet) and the one who seemed the most fascinated with me, looked right at me and peeped — three times — as if to say, Hey Lady!  Whatcha doin’?

This was a wonderfully astonishing interlude, a memory I shall cherish forever.  I’m so very happy that I did not have my eye glued to the viewfinder, or fixed on the screen the entire time, because I loved observing this lovely group and their family dynamics.  

Pay attention
Be astonished
Tell about it^†

To Beth, thank you, thank you, thank you.  I loved this challenge!  Please take a moment to visit Beth’s site, enjoy her magnificent images and read her lovely post (link):  Lens Artists Photo Challenge #384 – What Astonishes You? — you’ll not be disappointed, promise!

’Til next time, y’all…

^†Mary Oliver from her poem “Sometimes” — page 64, #4 from in her anthology “Devotions”.