Harlequin Duck in Ust-Kamenogorsk.

Five day ago, 13 of December was very sunny therefore I went to the birding to Strelka after noon. I took photos of bright sunlit Ducks, some time followed Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, shot three or four Dippers, and twice tried to take White-tailed Sea-Eagle in Ulba river. Two interesting records. First one: perhaps due to warm weather one of Dipper began to sing the song. Second one: flying Sea-Eagle flushed Goldeneyes, and latters move from the far part of gulf to the near one. When I came back to home I continue my work and don’t select and view the photos. But I did it yesterday (17 of December), and I found the Harlequin Duck in some photos.

Of course today I went to Strelka right in morning, and I was lucky guy. Firstly, I was in Strelka right between morning and day snowfalls. Secondly, as soon I arrived to Strelka and took binocular as the flock of about 30 Goldeneyes comes to the water beside me. One Harlequin Duck was together with Goldeneyes. About one hour I was taking photos of it and all the time it was with Goldeneys at the distance from about 80 to 250 meters from me. At 10 am I already was frozen and went home.

1. Harlequin Duck and Goldeneyes, December 13, 2106

2. Unconscious photo of Harlequin Duck from December 13, 2016.