Just a quick post this morning of a photo of a 1st winter Common Goldeneye drake with a crawdad in his bill at my neighborhood pond taken last year.
1st winter Common Goldeneye drake with a crawdad – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It was a bright, sunny but chilly morning and I spent a lot of time focused on this young Common Goldeneye drake as he caught and consumed a few crawdads. I shared several images of him last year but had omitted this photo.
What I liked about this image was the great eye contact, the funky reflections of the duck and crawdad, and how the goldeneye was holding the crawdad in his bill.
I haven’t photographed many Common Goldeneyes this winter due in part to the dark, cloudy skies we have had. I thoroughly enjoy seeing these ducks at my neighborhood ponds and in the marshes that surround the Great Salt Lake while they are here during the winter.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Common Goldeneye photos plus facts and information about this species.
Everything about this pic is interesting; especially the reflections. Thanks Mia.
Looks like he might have shaken off those claws already. Great shot, Mia! (Still trying to do the Ruddy Duck Drake thing — and hilariously getting even worse — can’t do ONE now!😂)
He is swimming so low in the water it you must have captured this not long after he surfaced with his prize.