[Leica] IMG: Diving ducks

[Gene Duprey]

Love these.

Gene


On Wed, Dec 23, 2015 at 10:15 AM, RicCarter <ric at cartersxrd.net> wrote:

> the mergy diving is real special
>
> ric
>
>
> > On Dec 23, 2015, at 7:01 AM, Doug Herr <wildlightphoto at earthlink.net>
> wrote:
> >
> > 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
> >
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>
>
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