By Sally Siko

A somewhat uncommon sight in NC, I was pleasantly surprised to spot this Common Goldeneye paddling around in the North Pond while on a recent birding trip to Pea Island.

She was super entertaining to watch as she harassed the Buffleheads and Tundra Swans feeding nearby. At one point she got super low in the water and stretched out like a cat waiting to pounce and then started going after a Tundra Swans feet lol!
Such a feisty duck, brave to bully a Swan much larger than she.

Common Goldeneyes are beautiful!
Though the drakes sport emerald green heads, even the hens (like this one) dressed in chocolate and steel gray plumage are just lovely.
I wish that the sun had come out more when I took this series of photos as I only managed to grab one shot with good color of the hen while she preened.
Still it was exciting to see her!

A winter visitor to North Carolina, Goldeneyes nest in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska.
During breeding season they can be found on northern lakes and rivers surrounded by mature trees where nest cavities may be found.
When autumn arrives, they migrate to coastal marine and estuarine habitats and large, interior lakes and rivers throughout most of the United States.
Oddly enough though, they are not found in great numbers from the Carolinas down to Florida.

Your best bet in spotting one of these beauties in NC is to check out the lower Cape Fear River and Roanoke Sound areas along the east side of Roanoke Island.
There are small numbers to be found in fresh water habitat such as Lake Mattamuskeet and Pea Island too so it’s worth keeping an eye out for them from now through late February.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5