Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

As you can see, Victoria's coastal waters are a popular place for ducks in the winter. There are at least three kinds of duck in the above photo. Left foreground we can see a couple of Bufflehead Ducks, featured HERE a few days ago. They have a black forehead and the top and back of the head is white. Most of the brownish ducks in the center are American Wigeons, featured HERE last week. Today's featured duck is the Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and there are six of them visible at the rear left of this group. They have black heads with a white disk on each cheek. The heads have a characteristic domed appearance. The golden eyes for which they are named are also quite visible. The females are not quite so distinctive and there are no doubt a few in the photo but none that I am able to identify with any certainty. This entire mixed group of ducks was very busily diving, apparently harvesting some kind of seaweed at that particular spot.