As the days hurry on and we greet the winter solstice here in New Zealand, I’m dreaming of past summer solstice days in Minnesota. Here’s one from exactly two years ago, 
featuring a mother goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and four of her brood hurrying along in the lake just below our cabin. Wishing a happy solstice to you all, wherever you may be!
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krikitarts 
Happy midsummer or solistice to you too!
Two solstices–midsummer for you, and midwinter for me. Please have a swim in that lake of yours for me!
I will :)
In a hurry 😊
For sure!
Seems like you had a duckstice to accompany your solstice.
Bucephala is Greek for ‘ox head’. Why that should have become a genus name for ducks isn’t obvious to me. Do you know?
According to the Encyclopedia of Life, the ancient Greek “boukephalos” is seen in this instance as “bullheaded,” a reference to the crest of the goldeneye making its head look large. In fact, another name for the common goldeneye is bufflehead.
It’s strange how people sometimes borrow the same metaphor for quite different things. Here in Texas goldeneye is a kind of flower: https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/keeping-an-eye-on-goldeneye/
Wonderful shot!
Thanks! I caught them just after the mom had seen me and was scooting to get the kids away from the fearsome potential predator, and luckily before they got out of decent range.
Beautiful capture, Gary. Where has the time flown to? The days now draw shorter as we head for autumn.
And ours longer with spring on the far horizon. I’m afraid it’s going to be a long winter here.
And a Happy Solstice to you, my friend. Wonderful picture, a species I know well. :)
And you probably know it from your current haunts, rather than from your time in Africa, as it’s found worldwide, but in northern boreal forests–or did some stray down that way too?
That’s right, I know it from the UK. :)
I was surprised by how closely your Goldeneye resembles our Bufflehead. Good thing I read the comments, eh?!
Oh, ja, that’s for sure, you betcha! It is interesting how different common names seem to be preferred in various parts of their range. OTOH, I often wonder how you can keep up not only with all the comments that you get, but with those of others on our various websites, on which you have left your own comments, and then follow up on them and read what others have commented and, and, and…I really think you must have secretly cloned yourself. I find myself struggling to keep up with the comments and feedbacks that folks have left for me–far, far fewer than you have on your plate, and it’s quite overpowering sometimes.
Nice brood. I just commented on your little brood and now here’s a Golden Eye group. :-)
Having to get up and out of the house by at least 4:30 for sunrise I am thrilled that the days are now getting shorter while yours are getting longer. Not by much but the increments all add up.
I did that morning schedule of having to get up at 4:20 for years, and I’m so happy to that in the past. Now, if I want to get up that early, it’s way different from having to, day after day. And the rewards nowadays are much greater than they were back then. It’s a concept well worth brooding on, again and again.
I have been spoiled by having the time to myself every day because of the Pandemic shutdown. Now that I am back to work I can actually sleep a little later if I want since being in at 7 is easier than out at 4:30. But because I’ve had a taste of retired life I will be more eager for it to arrive than I thought I would be.
A Happy (belated) Solstice to you, too, Gary. What a fabulous photo that is, with the rush of water and all the intensity in her expression. I love it!
Hey, thanks for this, I’ve been a little behind at times too, and it’s never too late!