There just wasn’t much going on in my backyard, as far as birds to photograph, so I hopped in my car and headed over to Bethany Lakes Park. My camera had been calling to me all day long, so I knew I had to get out and capture some photos. It was sunny and 70 degrees outside, so staying in just wasn’t an option. There was not enough time for me to hop on my bike and make it back in time to pick up my kids at carpool, so a quick trip to Bethany Lakes Park was all I had time for.

It was really fun to watch the Grackles! They were masters at stealing the pretzels from the ducks!

As always, Bethany Lakes Park did not disappoint. When I go there during the school day, it’s such a nice, quiet escape! There were only 2 little toddlers there during my visit, and they did a perfect job of scaring some of the ducks and birds into flight for me. I just sat quietly on the banks of the lake and waited for them to do their thing.

Coming in for a landing after being chased by two toddlers!

I captured a few good photos, but the ducks were so close, I think I would’ve been better off with a different lens. These two kids were also throwing pretzels from their lunch into the lake, which was causing quite a commotion, so I was able to practice shooting with high shutter speeds as the birds dove in after the pretzels, too! The birds were much faster than the ducks, and in most cases, the birds won.

If you haven’t been to this park, it is definitely worth a visit. There are several small lakes, a playground area, picnic tables, a pavilion, and lots of small “off-road” trails to explore. A small creek runs through this area too, and it’s just shallow enough to splash around in and skip rocks in the deeper parts.

So pack up your kids, your camera, and a picnic lunch and head over to Bethany Lakes Park. You’ll love it!