Barrow's Goldeneye ducks (from forgotten files)

[NorthernFocus]

Well it's that time of year. We're deep into winter here and I don't do much winter photography. So having pretty much finished processing the Oz shots, I dived into the annual winter hard drive cleaning. I always find a few gems in there.

These are Barrow's Goldeneye ducks. They are fairly common on Prince William Sound where we boat during the summer. I really did a lot of shooting in May and June and didn't take time to do much processing at all. Plus due to them not being anything exotic I never got around to these files.

These were all shot with a Nikon D7100 and 500mm VR, handheld from a boat. It was the first time using the 7100 and second outing with the 500mm.

I wonder why they call them goldeneye??? This lady duck was very popular with the boys.



Boys n girls dating.





I spliced a sequence of four shots together just for fun.

[Stinky]

These are great. Especially#1

[Downrigger]

Fabulous shots - we have some wintering down here on the wetlands near Great Salt Lake and I caught a few swimming around the other day, but nothing like the great action, and interaction you have here.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, Mark and Steve.

Fabulous shots - we have some wintering down here on the wetlands near Great Salt Lake and I caught a few swimming around the other day, but nothing like the great action, and interaction you have here.

The timeframe that these were taken they are busy sorting out who gets to mate with who. So they are fairly active. Once a male thinks he has a chance he won't get more than a few feet from his lady, whether on land, sea, or in the air. It's funny watching them fly like a wingman every where that the female goes.

[IzzieK]

These are truly a masterpiece series...I love BIFs...

[deetheturk]

Great images Dan!

[Clive Kirby]

I really like no 3.
Clive

[jprzybyla]

I know what to expect from you so I will not comment other than to say... I like them. I am hoping a few of them decide to winter in Florida, a beautiful bird.

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks for the comments, folks. Glad you enjoyed the series.

Izzie, BIF shooting is what floats my boat

... I am hoping a few of them decide to winter in Florida, a beautiful bird.

Joe, if you get them down that way they would be Common rather than Barrow's. Slightly lighter back and a the white spot in front of the eye is round rather than curved. But the same vivid eye. You are on the extreme southern end of the winter range of the common goldeneye so seeing one down there would be an uncommon occurrence.