ML646820764

Observation details

*Very rare, a gorgeous drake picked out amongst the COGO masses at about 12:20 appx 100 yards north of the bridge. Upon first encounter, the bird was rather close giving excellent views roughly a quarter of the way across the river - quite lucky considering the distance of most other birds. Several birders arrived on site within just 10 minutes, and together we watched the bird on-and-off for a half hour as it slowly moved NNW towards Iowa, but remaining firmly on the IL side of the state line buoy marker. It was foraging actively, often lost diving between the COGOs for minutes at a time before being relocated. A goldeneye with a crescent-shaped face patch, extensive back on the back dipping well into the sides outlining a row of neat, softly rounded squares. Bill smaller and shorter than COGO, crown was peaked rising steeply from the bill and sloping more gently into the nape. In addition to appearing generally darker and more contrasty, the bird’s plumage carried a subtle purplish hue unlike the glossy greenish shimmer on a COGO. See photos, two cropped digiscopes and 3 from camera. My 350th bird for Illinois.