[Leica] IMG: Diving ducks

[Doug Herr]

Yesterday (December 22) I visited the American River at the nearby fish hatchery.  Outflow from the hatchery's spawning operations flows into the American River and often contains fish scraps, drawing numerous birds to the spot.

The outflow is located at river level while the hatchery itself is on the bluffs about 50' above the river.  From river level to the top of the bluff the bank is protected from erosion by rirap, large blocks stone and concrete.  Access to river level is by clambering down the riprap, wet from recent rains, while loaded with camera, tripod, blind and a comfy seat.  (Note to self: find a better way to tie the tripod to the backpack.)

The blind I used is little more than a 6' x 6' piece of camo bug screen which has a separating zipper added to one edge so that I can enclose the bird-visible side with a hole for the lens to protrude.  Remarkably effective.  Unlike the previous day (cold and rainy) I didn't have to use gloves so I was quite pleased with the camera's handling.

The vast majority of the birds drawn to the hatchery's outflow are Common Goldeneye, a diving duck that eats aquatic invertebrates, small fish and vegetation.

The adult male Common Goldeneye's striking black-and-white plumage is unmistakable, as is its distinctive head shape:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/bucephala/cogold12.html

the female's coloration is less striking but her golden eye is clearly visible.  Also notice the sloped forehead and head shape, which I'll get back to later:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/bucephala/cogold14.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/bucephala/cogold13.html

The immature male Common Goldeneye has a brown head instead of the iridescent green-black of the adult but the white cheek spot separates this bird from the female:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/bucephala/cogold15.html


Slightly less common than the Common Goldeneye is the Common Merganser:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/mergus/comerg21.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/mergus/comerg22.html
http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/mergus/comerg23.html


Less frequently seen is the Barrow's Goldeneye.  It's easy to overlook among the dozens of Common Goldeneyes but notice the male's cheek crescent instead of a round spot, the less rounded head shape, shorter bill and steeper forehead.  The male's head tends to be more iridescent purple-black instead of the Common Goldeneye's green-black:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/bucephala/bagold02.html

All photos: Sony a7II, Canon FD 500mm f/4.5 L, tripod & blind.  All comments welcome.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com
http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com