Duck Lake Eclipse Hazel

The temperatures had been below zero for quite a while, therefore you can imagine Birk's surprise, when he found a body of water that was not frozen solid. He had been born at a place, where winter ruled most months of the year, he thought he knew the harsh, greedy and unforgiving nature of the Mistress herself very well, yet there were those, who fought against or simply did not give in. 

Another thing that describes winter well, is the stillness - absence of the maddening chorus of the various songbirds. Here, however, he could hear the quacking from afar with amusing "duck-laughter" breaking through the commotion. The northerner drew closer to the lake, to make sure that he was not imagining things, and was rewarded with a good view over the current duck metropolis of the area. At least twenty birds, where swimming and chatting in the still unfrozen part of the lake.

He stood on the bank and watched them.