7 little Ducks

I was exploring our area, flying around (as you do) with Mr Google, and I noticed that if we walked right down to the end of Gregory Terrace, there are extensive parklands near the Roma Street station.

THE Park!




What a glorious park it is! You could wander for hours and still not see it all. There are winding pathways and boardwalks among beds of all colours, textures and shapes of plants, with the occasional whimsy of (for example) a long section of trimmed and shaped hedge suddenly turns out to be a huge caterpillar with eyes and a mouth bugging out at the end.

There are waterways that wind through the park from the top of the hill down to the bottom.
Is some places the water is calm, such as where there are floating pot plants, and in others the water is refreshed as it pours over one of the many waterfalls.



Notice how carefully this father holds his son's wrist as they walk past the biggest waterfall - where the little boy had a few moments before run eagerly towards the amazing sight and sound of it.

The Duck Tale

Everyone was delighted to see this little duck, with her seven babies, swimming in the calm stream. We all watched her as she swam about with her ducklings always sticking close to her tail.

Some observers became quite concerned as the little group floated closer and closer to one of the many waterfalls ... and then over they went!



It was only about a 1 metre drop (see on the right here), but it was followed by a couple more drops ... and the ducklings were so tiny and fluffy!

Only 3 of them appeared at the other side, and swam eagerly after mum. The others somehow got tangled up under the waterfall, and some of us were sure the water would have pounded and drowned them.

A couple of these long-legged birds were wading around nearby, and it was feared they would fancy a mouthful of half-drowned duckling. The mother duck was stretching her neck at them in threatening manner.

Suddenly another duckling popped out of the swirling water, then another and another. Mother duck was swimming around with her six ducks ... and cheeping could be heard somewhere. Everyone wandering in the park today was so relieved when all seven were back at her tail. One of the ladies gave the mother duck a severe telling off for being so careless.

Other wildlife

There are notices everywhere warning people not to feed any wildlife.



This chap only wanted sunshine and insects anyway.

Remember Turkey

As we were leaving the park, I was a little surprised to see a familiar figure.



I have seen this face in this form so many times, but not in this country. You see this in every school and public building in Turkey. Ataturk! See here. This as a slightly unusual war memorial.