Ralph

I just love Mallards.
Sure, Wood Ducks are colourful and Mergansers are amusing the way they snorkel, but Mallards steal my heart.
Especially the males, or drakes.

Since I give names to all the wildlife that show up around here, the pair of Mallards that arrive each spring truly look like a Ralph and a Muriel.

The Ralph that arrived last week is especially handsome.  Just look at his beautiful iridescent head.
Be still my beating heart.

I texted my son when Ralph and Muriel arrived here last week. He said he too noticed some mallards swimming along shoreline (down in the Big Smoke) while looking out the window of his school. He remarked to some classmates "Oh, look…there's Ralph and Muriel!" He said they looked at him as if he was some sort of nut case.

Well I'm just nutty about mallards so I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.

Swoon.