Head on drake Common Goldeneye close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last week while going through photos I had taken last year I came across three drake Common Goldeneye close up photos that I wanted to share. This first image I liked because the goldeneye was coming at me head on. Additionally I liked the bow wave in front of the duck, the blue of the water and how I could see the green iridescence of his wet head feathers.
Close up drake Common Goldeneye profile – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I liked this second close up drake goldeneye image because it showed his head in profile, a water droplet about to fall from his bill and the great view of his golden eye which gives this species their common name. Plus I liked the low angle perspective that I was able to use when I photographed him.
Shaking drake Common Goldeneye close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/5000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And finally I liked this last close up photo of the drake Common Goldeneye because he had raised his body above the water to shake water off of his feathers. One of the water droplets can be seen falling in front of his neck while a few others are still on his head, neck and back.
I think that Common Goldeneyes are striking in appearance and fascinating to observe as they hunt for food, preen, rest, land and take flight. I saw some of these goldeneyes yesterday afternoon when I wandered down to my local pond to check it out. I didn’t take a single image of them but I did have a nice conversation with a neighbor about the birds we both see and haven’t been seeing in northern Utah.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Common Goldeneye photos plus facts and information about this species.
Such crisp detailed photos of these Winter birds! When I see them on Long Island Sound, they are usually quite far offshore, often riding the waves, so I have never been able to capture a closeup shot. Thank you for sharing.
Great pics! Love the detail and composition of each shot. Thanks Mia.
These glorious close-ups really illustrate how their outer feathers are totally waterproof! Even little droplets are beaded up
as if on a waxed or oily surface. His down won’t get soggy!
Glorious.
That head-on shot is really something! 🙂
Wonderful. Its difficult to get much in focus on the drake swimming towards you, but you did! Also liked the raised head posture.
Gorgeous!