Goosle Goslings: Downy Detail

More strokeable in large.
Back blip

Eeee, I stroked one of the goslings several times! I went to see the Goosles in the morning: I had the macro lens mounted, and got very close (hiding behind the camera definitely allows you to get closer). Mr. and Mrs. were at the pond's edge, and two of the goslings joined them, so I was just photographing one, and it was distracted (choosing grass): I lowered my camera and stroked its back. It didn't flinch and kept grazing: I stroked it three times and it seemed unperturbed (presumably thinking it was rubbing against a sibling). I stopped and it joined its siblings with Mr. and Mrs. without expressing any surprise or concern! It was so soft: I could feel its spine along its back, but either side was incredibly soft, and the down and new feathers felt silky and smooth.
*Sigh*  Exhilarating.

I've uploaded several other gosling macros to Flickr (right from here).
Highlights: 
Gosling eye detail
Gosling stretching its wings
Blue-tailed damselfly