Surprise! Lake!

Today I finally found it!  We've been coming to Surprise, Arizona for four years now.  I had heard of Surprise Lake - a blogger friend is always accompanying her husband there when he wants to go fishing - but I didn't know where it was.  I Googled it yesterday - big surprise!  It's five minutes from where we live just a stone's throw away from where Mickey and I parked when we attended the big Surprise Party in December.

Surprise Lake

I had expected woods and trees, fallen logs, bushes and bugs.  Instead, it was a beautiful five acre urban lake - man made I think - in the middle of the city.  It is kept stocked with five or six different species of fish, trout being the only one I can remember.  Boats, swimming and wading are not allowed in the lake but there's nice play areas, a large playground, benches placed around the perimeter of the lake, and a small length of wall.  There were fishermen at the far end of the lake enjoying the peace and quiet while catching their dinner.

People come to the park complex and feed the many types of waterfowl and birds that hang out there.  The birds seem quite unafraid of people and seemed to get uncomfortably close to the little kids tentatively throwing bread at them.

Just a small gathering of quackers and honkers

This one had a beautiful tuft of feathers at the back of her head.

This must be her brother - I wonder who curls their hair

This beauty struts her stuff (or his stuff, I don't know about those things)

While this one does her daily exercises.

Serene and sedate, he patrols the shore

and gets heckled by the lovely non-swimmer

The geese were there trying to intimidate the others with their size.

What are they looking at?  Does someone have bread for them?

The pigeons and doves look for their share of the handouts.

While this one looks on.

Meanwhile, up in the tree, this pair is finding their own food.

Gather around everyone...I have an announcement to make.

Follow your father, dear.

I'll conduct the music...

Or direct the traffic.

I have to get pretty for my big date tonight.

Well, I'm having a bath!

This turtle isn't going anywhere.

And neither is this crocodile.

And no matter how far away he goes, this poor creature just can't escape work.  Poor baby!

So that was my introduction to Surprise Lake.  I think I'll be going there again.  It's a beautiful spot to sit in the sun and watch the activities of the many types of birds...and people.

Enjoying the sun in sunny Arizona.

Pat