Mallard Lift-Off

I rushed down to the lake this morning because I couldn't get the thought of that cormorant, which I suspected had swallowed a fish hook, out of my mind. There was no sign of it on its regular perch in the cherry tree. :(

Another lovely sunny day. I captured this female mallard taking off and spent the afternoon at the town hospital accompanying MrQ at his appointment to see the respiratory consultant. His lungs are in surprisingly good condition but our experience at the hospital certainly wasn't edifying.