The summer heat here in northern Utah has begun to get to me and I’ve spent time over the last few days looking at images I have taken during the winter because they remind me that there are colder days to come. I know it has been scorching hot all over the country and many of us wish we’d get a break.
First winter drake Common Goldeneye close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Even though this past winter wasn’t as cold or as snowy as it should have been and I never once put on my heavy winter coat, thinking about the colder temps and snow of winter does cool me down some. Last December there were plenty of ducks on the pond that is close to where I live, some of those ducks I only see in the colder months of the year so they remind me of cooler days.
Common Goldeneyes are ducks I see during the late fall, winter and early spring and fortunately for me they often visit the pond that is close to home. This first winter Common Goldeneye drake had no issues with getting close to me as I photographed it on a chilly December afternoon. Maybe it got close because it was young and inexperienced, maybe it got close because it thought I might feed it, I can’t say for sure but I enjoyed the fact that it got close to me and seemed to be giving me the stink eye.
Not that I am wishing the summer away but it is nice to take a short break and dream of cooler days.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Common Goldeneye photos plus facts and information about this species.
July is almost over and we’re on the downstream side of summer!! I wish I were a water bird right now.
I ALWAYS wish the summer away. I hope you get some cool relief soon.
BEAUTIFUL!!!
Very nice, you are lucky to have a pond with wonderful wildlife so close to you. I am still greatly missing my respite at BRMBR. I would sit for hours watching, listening, and soaking up the beauty. The small amount of water and wildlife that remains open only saddens me, perhaps it will be our future.
Cool shot, Mia.
We’ve got another scorcher week going on in Southern California, so I’m especially appreciative of this shot and its gentle reminder of cooler days that will be here before we know it.
Absolutely gorgeous photo. The detail is amazing. The humidity in southern Ontario is getting to me so thinking of cooler days is nice.