July 19 -Manchester Road

A Mallard duckling trying out its wings

Starting Weather: Partly Cloudy,  79°

Ending Weather: Partly Cloudy, 76°

Distance Covered:  1.48 miles

Time: 6:53-8:19

We went to the trailhead on Manchester Road, just south of Lake Nesmith.  We had no specific expectations.  We have learned that there is always something interesting to photograph on the trail, no matter where we are.

A flock of blackbirds near sunset

When we arrived, we saw several Mallards that were little ducklings last time we were here.  It was so much fun watching them jump, scoot across the water with great speed and flap their little wings.   We saw lots of birds in flocks, flying back and forth across the canal.  At one point, we noticed over a hundred blackbirds perched in two trees on the other side of the canal.  We photographed them perched in the trees and flying out of the trees.  As it got later, the birds became silhouettes against the dusky sky.