We spent the day out in the boat. It seems that we were the object of great curiosity for two pair of Mallard ducks. Pair 1 flew in and landed really close to the boat. Much closer than I would have anticipated; but, the bigger surprise was that then they swam even closer. They looked in past the transom by the motor and watched us intently as they swam laps around the boat so close that I could have touched them. We didn’t feed them and after a couple laps they talked it over then took off. We moved on to another bay and before long here came pair 2, same friendly behavior then off they flew. The next time it happened, pair 2 swam across the bay to get up close and lapped us. All very weird. It got just a little stranger, even a little creepy the next time. We had run miles up the lake and were fishing our way back toward the ramp when down swooped pair 1. This time the male was really insistent. He watched intently as he circled several times then and after a couple short positioning turns actually got up his nerve and flew up into the boat. It was bizarre. He backed off when Kent shooed him but he tried at least a half dozen times. He was not going to give up. Kent started the motor and we headed for camp. Enough already!headed for camp. Enough already!

Fishing was a bust but birding wasn’t too bad
The beautiful (albeit slightly creepy) close-up views of the mallards, a kestrel, Bald Eagle, the first loons of the fall season, lots of coots and grebes and some of the early arrivers of the migrating ducks (buffleheads, ring necks, and canvasback).

Overall, a great day.