The Capitol Ducks

In front of the Capitol Building is a large reflecting pool. On any given day there are many visitors and locals alike taking in the views of the Capitol, Grant's statue, the US Botanical gardens, and the Smithsonian buildings and Mall to the West. Regardless of the season, there is a large family of what I think are Mallard ducks who have taken over the place. They act like they own it and hardly pay attention to anyone who even looks at them, never mind the many who take photos of them - including me. You can see them paddling about searching for food, swimming and quacking with their babies every spring, and napping on the edges. But they always seem to stay close to the water. I noticed a bunch of them hanging around the grassy land in front of a big tree that was being "restored" - an unusual sight that they were not only out of but away from the water. But they were feasting on something... And they were pecking at each other. All was well until someone decided to upset their fun and scare them off. Since I was already taking a photo, I kept the camera rolling when they began lift off. The big blue stripe on the wings was about the only thing that came in to focus. In unison they flew past the Botanical garden and landed right back to where they normally can be found - close enough, but far enough away from the human kind. Someone always has to spoil the show.