goldeneye

A bright, clear morning on Lake Merritt, where many of the cold-water diving ducks from the north winter.

Girly version, not so colourful but more cute. I was surprised different sexes have different coloured eyes ! Male on link below http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/344757/ppuser/81837

Like the golden highlights in this image. ------------------------------------------- http://www.pbase.com/02purser

No Sign of the Black Redstart at Carsington Water yesterday ,but the sun shone and these guys were showing off.

The male this time and posing!!!

Golden Eye on a golden lake, hope you like it.

Goldeneye

Goldeneye

And another female, while I'm in a feminist mood. Although the male goldeneye is flashier in his winter "tuxedo", the female is quite stylish as well in all that chocolatey brown.

Here's part 3 of the story. This picture should actually follow a series of him fluffing his feathers and scratching. Was he itching because he's changing to his summer plumage? Anyway, this display was fun to watch and I was happy I'd caught it fairly well on camera.

Here's part 2 of today's 3-part story: The male goldeneye pops back up after his dive. Note that he's still in his winter colors. One shot shows that he's just starting to change to summer brown, at least on one cheek.

It has been my tradition to have a Goldeneye pic in Mays competition. Let it be so this year too. :)

Time for the GE to rise.

This is my place, said the Goldeneye. Sounded like Meep to me..

For Ove. Congrats! BIG holiday ahead. :) I like the tranquility of this image.

Thats what aprils are about.

When the ice finally loses its grip and is under heavy attack from the sun it turns mushy and gets this wonderful deep blue colours. This happens only a couple of days and then its gone. Hallelujah. ;);