I stopped by Lake Morton in late April hoping to see some Mute Swan cygnets. I was too late for the swans, but it was the perfect morning for Wood Ducks. I found three families with small ducklings. Cuteness alert! The Wood Ducklings are the most photogenic of the ducklings at Lake Morton, and also the hardest to photograph.

Mom keeps a close eye on her little family, and Dad is never too far away if there’s trouble. Mostly Mom keeps the babies in the lakeside vegetation, where they are harder for the hawks to grab. But sometimes Mom takes them out in the lake for swimming lessons.

I sat on the side of the lake and watched one little family for a while. Mom didn’t seem to notice me because I was sitting still and low, and she let the babies come near the shore for a bath and a little rest. They were so cute to see up close!

A little while later, Papa decided to join his family for a swim on the lake. I’ve never gotten a full-family portrait of the Wood Ducks before. What a sweet little family!

As I left, the last family of Wood Ducks was preening on a rock in the shade. Mama kept a close eye on her two little ones. They called goodbye to me and reminded me to visit again soon!