A report of a male Barrow’s Goldeneye at a park not too far from my regular birding sites sent me out the door yesterday into the drizzly weather with hopes of seeing this uncommon bird. A bit of luck must have followed me because I found the bird after only a minute of searching and it was close enough to shore for a great clear view in the scope. A male Common Goldeneye was also closely associating with this male Barrow’s Goldeneye, which gave me the opportunity to compare both species in the same scope view. I couldn’t have asked for more out of this sighting, my first of a male Barrow’s Goldeneye! From there I returned to one of my regular birding sites along the river where I found among other things Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Green-winged Teal, White-winged Scoter, and a large flock of Black Scoter.
 
My waterfowl luck continued this morning when I saw this Cackling Goose, my first of the year. I also had the opportunity to photograph a male Green-winged Teal and more Northern Pintails. Strong wings discouraged waterfowl from the open river this morning; I only saw one Red-necked Grebe, one Red-breasted Merganser, and a few White-winged Scoters.