Within two days time, here at the lake house, the ice has disappeared and summer wildlife returned.

Two loons flew in and have been calling, fishing, and scouting nesting places.

Mallard ducks are mapping out and defending their territory, and we’ve even seen a few mosquitos.

One mallard, a male, seems to be without a mate. He’s staying in, guarding really, our quiet little bay. He may have a mate, seldom seen as she’s nesting, because I do remember seeing her on the beach one morning last week. Wary should be the duck or team of ducks who try to move in on the bay shore before those babies are hatched out. He’s a fervent protector.

Veronica has a very good shot of him, diving from the dock to the water, that I’ll try to post later this week.