“If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.”  Douglas Adams – British comic, writer, author of A Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

I know what a duck looks like.  I know what a robin looks like.  That’s about as far as it goes.

David and I keep binoculars on one of the tables on our porch because the birds in Mexico are fascinating (you’ve seen the Spanish speaking parrot’s photos).  We find them to be both colorful and boisterous.  I ask you, would it be any other way here?  These two-legged, warm blooded animals with wings, a beak and bodies covered with feathers have to compete with all the other larger then life activity here.

David knows more about birds then I do – which isn’t hard since I know nothing.  He also has a tipster in that his brother is an avid birdwatcher and he can enlist his aid should we be stumped as to what type of winged creature might be sharing our garden at any given moment.

Below are some pictures David took of a beautiful fellow that has exhibited signs of male dominance which is also part of every day life in Mexico.

He is beautiful, proud, passionately sings at the top of his lungs each morning and seems to be king of the roost in our garden, as well.  You cannot take him for granted.  He makes his presence known by loudly declaring what I believe is his ownership of this tree, that branch, that flower, that palm or where ever else he may alight.

He is quite animated. If you are quietly reading, he will take ownership of the sound barrier and break same until you set the book down and pay attention to him.  He does not simply enter our garden; his fight is like a highly choreographed dance with graceful and rhythmical movements that crescendo in a gentle landing on the tiniest of limbs.  As is the case with most birds, from what I am told, his coloring is much more vibrant then his female companion.  She seems content to simply stand by and watch the performance as we do.

There are many other birds we have not as yet been able to catch on film.  In particular our little humming bird friend with her red beak, hyper wings and angelic face who is a mainstay as she zooms from one place to the other making our hearts leap and smiles descend upon our faces.  We’ve noticed more and more birds coming to visit each day.  The brightest of reds, yellows and oranges flitting from flower to flower or gently sitting upon the end of a palm branch and swaying in the breeze.

“I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance that I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn.”  Henry David Thoreau

Oh, and by the way, I do think I’ve seen ducks on Lake Chapala – but don’t quote me on that.  Pictures are below.  They do not, however, remind me of ducks I’m seen prior to this – like the Mallard for instance or Loons which, I believe are members of the duck family.  I’m adding some of the photographs David took during our walk this past week.  Enjoy