Tingley Beach with Zero

Yesterday, we went to Tingley Beach.

Tingley Beach is a series of 4 man-made fishing ponds.
It also has quite a few ducks and geese!
It has been a favorite place for years.

A younger local member of the BJD group messaged the group

through Facebook, stating that she wanted to learn more about doll photography.

I have been doing it for 15 years, so I let her know that I was available.

She had never been to Tingley Beach, so we decided that it would be

an interesting free location for photography.

Her BJD is an MSD named Zero.

The first step was to set him down and to learn how to work the

auto feature on her camera, allowing it to focus and then take the photo.

The geese were an interesting backdrop/photobomb.

Many visitors feed the ducks and geese, so they are interested

enough in people to look to see if they have food.

This one was an original. She said it looked like a turkey.

I don't know if this is some kind of duck breed, an inbred duck,

or a duck with some kind of tumor.
It was one of a kind at this location.

Tingley Beach is a part of the Bio Park property.

It is located between the zoo and the botanic gardens.

All of the geese and ducks have access to medical care

through the zoo vets, so if this is a tumor of any kind,

I am sure that zoo personnel are aware of it and has decided on

treatment or allowing the duck to live with it.
If this is a breed of duck, I would be interested to know what it is.

We continued to explore and photograph the features of the park

This artwork boat is on the edge of the pond reserved

for model boaters.

My next love at the park is the mountain fountain.

We were very lucky that children were not climbing all over it

when we visited it and took our turn taking photos around it.
This is a popular place for climbing and wading children,

especially in warm and hot weather!

There is a stream from the pond in the fountain

running into the children's fishing pond.

We walked to the other side of the children's pond

and arrived at the main pond.

The main pond has paddle boats for rent during the summer.

We had seen at least one child care or Bio Park camp group

on the property. Older children were paddling the boats

with an adult in the back seat. One used it as a bumper car

to run into another group member/friend, which is how the boats

all ended up so close together.

When it was time to go in, they all went together

as if they were racing.

ADAD In Between

It was a great photo op for the ADAD theme of "in between"!

Zero sat on another log and waited for his person

to return from the drinking fountain in the nearby building.

Ella decided to be a good friend and join him.

Our next resting spot was near the south end of the main pond

A goose sat in the bushes, and my friend asked if it was sitting on eggs.

When it got up for a few minutes,

I was able to photograph the nest with 2 eggs.

We then walked to the end of the main pond.

Look, my favorite cottonwood root!!!

Then, I felt something on my arm. I am getting tired of being

eaten by bugs when I go out and have become mindful

of shooing bugs away before I am bitten.

But, it wasn't a flying bug! It was a caterpillar

that probably dropped from a tree or was on the table

where we rested. I picked it up and put it on a  tree.

Back to the cottonwood root!

Look! You can see the pond through the other side!!!

Duck!!! What?

A duck photobomb!!!

"You guys have anything for me to eat?

It is lunch time...always!!!"

I showed my friend the last pond. It is a quieter pond.

I tend to see individuals here rather than the families that

are found at the main pond.

Zero agreed!

This is a perfect place to rest!

"Wake up, Zero!!!"

"My turn for a photo!!!!"

"Yawn...yeah... it is time to go!

Thanks for the visit kid, but I'm ready to go home."

So, we walked back to the car and drove our friends home.

It was a fun morning outing, but like the duck said,

it was time for lunch!