{"id":37269,"date":"2016-02-08T06:37:24","date_gmt":"2016-02-08T13:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.featheredphotography.com\/blog\/?p=37269"},"modified":"2016-02-08T06:37:24","modified_gmt":"2016-02-08T13:37:24","slug":"male-common-goldeneye-foraging-in-rapids-of-the-jordan-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/02\/08\/male-common-goldeneye-foraging-in-rapids-of-the-jordan-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Male Common Goldeneye Foraging In Rapids Of The Jordan River"},"content":{"rendered":"

This was one of my most challenging bird photography sessions ever\u00a0but the behavior was fascinating to watch.<\/p>\n

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\"common<\/p>\n

1\/3200, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n

Five days ago I photographed this male Common Goldeneye as it foraged for invertebrates and small fish in some rapids of the Jordan River near my home. The water was extremely swift and turbulent and it required an extraordinary effort from the duck to avoid being swept downstream but it was obvious that he preferred to forage in the fastest-moving water, probably because those areas were most productive. Most of the time he was under the surface and I could barely follow him through the shallow water –\u00a0often it was his flashing yellow-orange feet breaking the surface that gave away his position.<\/p>\n

Occasionally he would move to a less turbulent spot behind a rock for a brief rest as he’s doing here – those were some of the few times I could actually see most of his body.<\/p>\n

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\"common<\/p>\n

1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II,<\/em> Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/p>\n

But\u00a0much of\u00a0the time he was underwater or nearly so. I never did see any prey because this species normally consumes its food beneath the surface.<\/p>\n

This entire session was an exposure nightmare because of the combination of\u00a0bright light, almost inky blue-black water\u00a0and the blacks and\u00a0whites of the bird\u00a0in the foamy white\u00a0water. But I haven’t had\u00a0this much fun in a long time as I watched this bird and a female for over half an hour\u00a0as they struggled with the current and dived for food.<\/p>\n

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