Those of us who live farther out along the West Arm, and so don’t have quick access to the abundance of waterfowl at Nelson’s waterfront, must make do with the crumbs which drop from Nelson’s table.
So, I have been delighted of late by regular visits of a solitary female Goldeneye. Until this morning, she did not turn up when the lighting was adequate for pictures, but at sunrise today, I managed some shots between her frequent dives. She even surfaced with a delectable in her bill on one occasion.
Two species of Goldeneye are seen around the Lake: Common and Barrow’s. The males are easy to distinguish; the females are not. Consequently, the identity of the lassie in these pictures prompted some discussion among birders, but the consensus was that she is a Common Goldeneye. (Sibley offers some useful comments about how to tell these two species apart).
The Kootenay-Lake Website offers a discussion and more pictures of local diving ducks.
