On my last trip to Bear River MBR I saw and photographed a Goldeneye-Merganser showdown where the prize that was being fought over was a shiny shad.
Common Goldeneye drake with a shad – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Common Goldeneye caught the shad and the Common Merganser chased the drake goldeneye out of the water onto the slippery ice shelf. I locked onto both ducks and hoped to see some interesting or funny action. Wow, did I ever!
Drake Common Goldeneye slipping on ice with prey in his bill – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The drake Common Goldeneye was slipping on the ice as he moved away from the Common Merganser. The action was happening fast but it also seemed like it was happening in slow motion to me.
Common Merganser following a Common Goldeneye with a shad – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The goldeneye seemed to be having difficulties keeping the shad secure in his bill. So he would stop, slide a little, and then adjust his prey before moving away from the merganser.
Common Merganser chasing a Common Goldeneye with a shad – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The merganser would see the goldeneye stop and race towards the west and the goldeneye. By this time, I was starting to laugh as I photographed the two diving ducks slipping and sliding on the ice. Laughing while taking photos isn’t always a good thing. It can cause the loss of focus.
Common Goldeneye with a fish running away from a Common Merganser – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Somehow I was able to keep my focus on the ducks moving across the ice even while I giggled. The goldeneye seemed determined to keep his fishy prize in his bill.
Common Merganser following a Common Goldeneye with a shad – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And the merganser seemed equally determined to snatch the shad away from the goldeneye. Both ducks continued slipping and sliding towards the west.
Common Goldeneye with a shad followed by a Common Merganser – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
As I kept my focus on both diving ducks I noticed that the merganser stopped moving. The goldeneye kept going forward. I wasn’t sure why the merganser stopped.
Common Goldeneye drake with a fish in his bill – Nikon D500, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Common Goldeneye moved further away from the merganser. When it stopped moving I had grasses along the shoreline that were preventing a clear view of the goldeneye. I watched the drake drop the shad when it slipped on the ice through the grasses. The goldeneye quickly picked the shad back up with his bill.
Common Goldeneye drake running with his shad – Nikon D500, f10, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Then he almost exploded into a run with his wings flapping and his webbed feet slapping onto the slippery ice.
In this photo you can see a bit of what appears to be haze from the neck down on the goldeneye. That is the out of focus grass.
In that moment, I wasn’t sure why the goldeneye started running.
Common Goldeneye with a shad running from a Great Blue Heron – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
But very quickly I discovered why the merganser had stopped moving forward and why the goldeneye was running across the ice.
A Great Blue Heron had flown in and it was obvious that the wading bird wanted to steal the shad from the goldeneye. The appearance of the much larger and taller Great Blue Heron even made the merganser stop its pursuit of the shiny shad.
Drake Common Goldeneye sliding on ice – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Common Goldeneye kept running as fast as his orange webbed feet would carry him across the ice slipping and sliding away.
Common Goldeneye drake running on thin ice with his shad – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
As the drake Common Goldeneye ran across the ice it came to a spot of open water that was filled with at least 15 other goldeneyes and mergansers. He slid into the pile of ducks and water with the shad still secure in his bill.
The Great Blue Heron didn’t get the shad. The Common Merganser that had been chasing the goldeneye didn’t get the prized fish either.
I didn’t see if the drake Common Goldeneye was able to swallow his prize before the other diving ducks could grab it because of splashing water but I suspect that it did. He seemed very determined to have that shad for breakfast.
My trip up to Bear River MBR two days ago was full of amazing fun and I came home a touch hoarse from laughing so much. I’ll have more Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and Great Blue Heron photos to share soon along with the stories behind those images.
Life is good. Birds can make it hilarious!
Mia
Click here to see more of my Common Goldeneye photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my Common Merganser photos plus facts and information about this species.
Terrific set of shots. Absolutely fascinating and very funny narrative. Thanks Mia.
Fun story and series.
That is a wonderful set of images . Glad you had so much fun capturing these photos.
Super series! Love the second last shot where it looks like the Goldeneye is skating. Sure hope he got to eat his catch.
Great series! Ice, sunshine and lots of action.
Beautiful photos and explanation of these events.
What great fun and photos. Wish I had been there too. I like the image of you, laughing and clicking.
What a great series of shots. I’m surprised they are in focus while you were laughing. My shots wouldn’t be.