There is a Barrow’s Goldeneye that winters in the South Platte River every year. I don’t know whether this is the same duck that we have seen every year, or not. The male duck is very easy to identify, but the female is much more difficult. The female looks very similar to the female Common Goldeneye. Last week, I went on a quest to find the female(s).
After confirming that the Barrow’s is still here, I returned the next day in a quest to find the female. Of course, I found some other species. On arriving at the river, I found this pair of American Wigeons.
Soon, I found a group of female Goldeneye ducks. I worked my way downstream and upstream a few times, making several images along the way. In this image, I managed to capture a Common Goldeneye flapping her wings.
Now, were there any female Barrows? I found another female Goldeneye that started to flap her wings. Was it a Barrow’s? The bill has much more yellow than the common species. The head is a different shade of brown. This female had a different shape of head when compared to the common females; closer in shape to the male. Yes. Found the female Barrow’s Goldeneye!
Eventually the male Barrow’s Goldeneye, made his way upstream to the join the group of females. In this image, I managed to capture both male and female as they turned around and headed downstream.
Most of the Goldeneye ducks were swimming upstream and downstream, swimming and diving as they were foraging for food. They repeated this several times during my time observing them. In the following image, I captured the male with three females following behind; one Barrow’s female and two Common females. They soon passed the male Buffelhead (see below). The difference between the Barrow’s and Common can be seen here.
Occasionally, the ducks take flight to move upstream, instead of paddling against the water flow. I managed to capture this one female Common Goldeneye as she took flight.
There are several other specifies of birds in the South Platte river at this location. I found this solitary Canada Goose on a sandbar in the river.
As I was returning to the parking lot, a pair of Northern Flickers landed on a tree as I walked under the tree. I managed to get a very decent image of one of these Flickers.
Found the female Barrow’s Goldeneye. Mission accomplished!