A Nemesis Bird is one that always escapes - an 'almost' bird.
'It was seen 5 minutes before you arrived'.'There it goes before I can get my camera out'.'Just a glimpse as it files/scurries away'.''It's been there a while, I'll go tomorrow'.
Nemesis #1 American Woodcock slainNemesis #2 Barrow's Goldeneye slainNemesis #3 Worm-eating Warbler
I am a bird photographer, so I need a good image to 'count'. A fleeting glance, a backlit shadow or a blurry image 100m away don't count.
I slew my Nemesis #1 (American Woodcock) last spring at Presqu'ile. Sitting in the parking lot at the Lighthouse it just walked past.
The Barrow's Goldeneye was more elusive. This bird is common in the West but surprisingly rare in the East. When they show they are often offshore ... too far for more than a picture of a black dot. It spent a month at Presqu'ile but never closer than the Green marker off the Lighthouse. There was one in Ottawa this spring and one in St. Catherine's but obviously I don't want it that badly as I didn't go.
Then the gods smiled. There was a Barrow's Goldeneye in Ajax that appeared to be in a Marsh, not on the open lake.
A 1hr. drive and in a few hours I got a picture that is 'as good as it gets'. This was taken with my new Nikon 500mm PF lens on a Nikon D7500.
If you are not a birder, the main difference is that the Common Goldeneye has a round white mark on the head between the beak and the eye while the Barrow's Goldeneye has a NIKE Swoosh. There are other difference but this is diagnostic.
That would be the end of it, but there is more.
There was a Common Goldeneye there and he had a girlfriend (a female Common). The Barrow's Goldeneye had none. Two males and one female we should see sparks fly.. and I did.
The attack.
A victory dance.
A parade.
Inter-species Wedded Bliss
What will their offspring look like? Just something to confuse birders.
Now does anyone know where I can find a Worm-eating Warbler?
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