Common Goldeneye

Description:

Common Goldeneye male and female ducks

Habitat:

Open areas of water along the Otter Tail River foraging on freshwater flora

Notes:

I'm fascinated by these extremely hardy diving ducks. Their wings make a funny whistling sound when they fly overhead so you can hear them coming in time to turn your body and focus your camera on them. This particular flock appears to have three males for every one female and there must be at least 18+ of them that forage for plants on the open areas of water along the river in this one spot alone. The one image I'd like to catch with my camera but have only seen with my eyes to date is that they occasionally ride the waves created by the water surging off of the dam, like a surfer catching a wave on the ocean. The female is somewhat bland while the males remind me of penguins with their lovely black and white bodies. These hardy little ducks dive in water surrounded by ice while seemingly unfazed by the extreme cold and wind chills.