Rich wanted Indian food again this weekend, so that meant another trip across town and another opportunity with the Common Goldeneye, who continues to hang out at Seminole Towne Center.  My last visit was late in the afternoon, and the sun had already set.  So we went back a little earlier to try for  some shots in the sun.

The pond wasn’t as busy as my last visit.  When I first pulled up, I actually thought there were no birds there.  Then I walked up and startled the Goldeneye, who was hanging out at the shore right in front of me.  Yep, if she’d been a snake she would have bitten me!  I grabbed my camera and tried to get a few shots as she headed to the safety of the middle of the pond…

I startled a couple of Lesser Scaup and a pair of Ring-necked Ducks, too.  They all congregated in the middle of the pond.  My 2X teleconverter went on the camera.  All the other ducks went to sleep, and the Common Goldeneye started to splash.  When birds bathe, they always follow up with a wing-flap.  Sweet!

She splashed and flapped and splashed and flapped – and every single flap was away from the camera!!  Silly bird.  She didn’t even swim away from the other birds before she flapped.  Someone needs to teach her about bird photography and subject isolation, not to mention head angle.  :)

I had to laugh as I watched the Common Goldeneye bathe.  She reminded me of Whiskey, rolling over to show off her white sides as she scratched her tummy.  I guess that’s how a bird reaches her stomach when she’s floating on a lake.  Look at her orange foot that she throws in the air!

Every good bath ends with a good shake, with water flying everywhere.  For this shot she actually faced the camera!  I wonder how much longer she’ll hang around in Central Florida.  Maybe next year she’ll come back and choose a smaller pond. ;-)