We’re home in Duluth! Better yet, there are signs of Spring. This morning around 10:00 a.m. the US Coast Guard cutter made its first trip out into the lake, and broke ice through the canal. Within three hours the duck population that had been wintering miles away in some open water discovered the canal was open. This means excitement if you are a duck, and the sides and bottom of the canal provide good eating opportunities. This photo was taken at 1 pm, and mallards and a few golden eyes were arriving in droves.

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Both my other photographs of Goldeneyes have been landscape photos from a distance. Thus, I decided it was time to get up close and personal. Hope I did not disturb their morning slumber!

It’s a good thing this decision was made today, because the amount of open water is rapidly decreasing on Lake Superior. This group found a small section of liquid H2O. You can also see why these ducks are named “goldeneye”!

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Yesterday while down at Duluth’s Canal Park, I noticed that a flock of Goldeneyes would fly into the canal 20 to 25 minutes before dawn to start their morning feed in one of the few spots with open water (Lake Superior is 90% ice covered as of yesterday). The open water is due to the combination of current present in the canal as water flows out into Lake Superior, and our prevailing winds out of the west and northwest tend to push water away from the Duluth harbor which causes an upwelling of “warmer” water.

Regardless, it was a beautiful icy cold morning (0F with a 15 mph wind).

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