[Leica] IMG: Diving ducks

[jhnichols at lighttube.net (Jim Nichols)]

Well worth the climb down the riprap, Doug.  That eye really stands out.

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 12/23/2015 6:01 AM, Doug Herr 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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