Barrow’s Goldeneye
Bucephala islandica
The Barrow’s Goldeneye’s range throughout the year is much more limited than is the Common Goldeneye. The primary breeding range is in northwestern North America, in Alaska, the Yukon, and British Columbia. Some of these ducks breed in the USA’s Rocky Mountain zone from the Canadian border south to Colorado, and occasionally further south. In winter, most of the northwestern birds spend their time along the coast from Southeastern Alaska to Washington’s Puget Sound. Most of the Rocky Mountain birds spend winters in Wyoming, while a few members stay in the Great Basin and in Idaho on the Snake River. There is also a much smaller range near Ungava Canada that winters along the coasts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Like its cousin, this bird usually nests in tree cavities in mature forests.
While the Barrow’s Goldeneye is primarily a North American species, I find it interesting that it was first discovered by western science in Iceland, where a small population lives year-round. Closely related to Bufflehead and Common Goldeneyes, the larger Barrow’s Goldeneye dominates any territory they may share with their relatives.
Despite their wide and disparate range, taxonomists classify the Barrow’s Goldeneye as monotypic (i.e. there are no subspecies).
To date, all my encounters with this species have come from my expeditions through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming. My first meeting with Barrow’s Goldeneye was in 2005 in Midvale (Idaho), while traveling to Alaska. But it was in Klamath Falls (Oregon) where I enjoyed my most intimate meetings in a park along the Link River (a section of the Klamath River). And in 2022, when I was enjoying my 16,000 mile expedition through Canada and the USA, I shared some quality time with these snappily dressed divers.
31 Photos
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Adult male bird at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:55 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728875-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Adult male bird at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:43 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D729366-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Adult male bird at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:04 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728958-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Adult male bird at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 16:00 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728931-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Adult male bird at Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:04:24 15:59 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728909-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:05:05 6:43 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D720072-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Veteran's Park in urban Klamath Falls Oregon. Here, the Klamath River joins Upper Klamath Lake and Lake Ewauna and is called the "Link River". |
Date Taken: 2016:05:05 6:43 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D720080-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Along Link River Trail, where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veteran's Park in Klamath Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:05 12:50 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X9138-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Along Link River Trail, where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veteran's Park in Klamath Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:05 12:19 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X8980-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Rocky islands along Link River are good places to find loafing waterfowl upstream from where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veterans Park in Klamath Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:05 11:52 |
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Location:
Link River |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X8898-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Along Link River Trail, where the Klamath River feeds into Lake Ewauna at Veteran's Park in Klamath Falls Oregon. |
Date Taken: 2015:06:05 11:49 |
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Location:
Veteran's Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X8886-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Near Canyon Villiage in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:22 11:01 |
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Location:
Canyon Village |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X4093-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Near Canyon Villiage in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:22 11:01 |
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Location:
Canyon Village |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X4088-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Near Canyon Villiage in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. |
Date Taken: 2015:05:22 11:01 |
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Location:
Canyon Village |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X4077-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: While we worked on waterfowl below Jackson Lake Dam, I enjoyed a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes foraging in the slough beside the Snake River. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:12 16:12 |
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Location:
Jackson Lake Dam |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8500048-JacksonLakeDam |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: While we worked on waterfowl below Jackson Lake Dam, I enjoyed a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes foraging in the slough beside the Snake River. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:12 16:13 |
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Location:
Jackson Lake Dam |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8500060-JacksonLakeDam |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: While we worked on waterfowl below Jackson Lake Dam, I enjoyed a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes foraging in the slough beside the Snake River. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:12 16:37 |
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Location:
Jackson Lake Dam |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8500184-JacksonLakeDam |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: While we worked on waterfowl below Jackson Lake Dam, I enjoyed a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes foraging in the slough beside the Snake River. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:12 16:36 |
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Location:
Jackson Lake Dam |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8500179-JacksonLakeDam |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: While we worked on waterfowl below Jackson Lake Dam, I enjoyed a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes foraging in the slough beside the Snake River. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:12 16:15 |
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Location:
Jackson Lake Dam |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8500119-JacksonLakeDam |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: While we worked on waterfowl below Jackson Lake Dam, I enjoyed a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes foraging in the slough beside the Snake River. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:12 16:15 |
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Location:
Jackson Lake Dam |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8500115-JacksonLakeDam |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
|
Description: While we worked on waterfowl below Jackson Lake Dam, I enjoyed a pair of Barrow’s Goldeneyes foraging in the slough beside the Snake River. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:12 16:14 |
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Location:
Jackson Lake Dam |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8500099-JacksonLakeDam |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: I met this lonely Barrow’s Goldeneye a few days earlier along the Snake River at Schwabacher Landing. He was a bachelor then and still was on this visit. Perhaps the days ahead will bring him some romance! |
Date Taken: 2022:05:10 16:28 |
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Location:
Schwabacher Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8509784-SchwabacherLanding |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
|
Description: I met this lonely Barrow’s Goldeneye a few days earlier along the Snake River at Schwabacher Landing. He was a bachelor then and still was on this visit. Perhaps the days ahead will bring him some romance! |
Date Taken: 2022:05:10 16:28 |
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Location:
Schwabacher Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8509760-SchwabacherLanding |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Schwabacher Landing is 17 miles north of Jackson Wyoming. Beavers have constructed dams along the Snake River that provide habitat for waterfowl such as this Barrow’s Goldeneye. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:07 12:19 |
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Location:
Schwabacher Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8507566-SchwabacherLanding-SnakeRiver |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Schwabacher Landing is 17 miles north of Jackson Wyoming. Beavers have constructed dams along the Snake River that provide habitat for waterfowl such as this Barrow’s Goldeneye. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:07 12:18 |
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Location:
Schwabacher Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8507560-SchwabacherLanding-SnakeRiver |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Schwabacher Landing is 17 miles north of Jackson Wyoming. Beavers have constructed dams along the Snake River that provide habitat for waterfowl such as this Barrow’s Goldeneye. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:07 12:18 |
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Location:
Schwabacher Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8507551-SchwabacherLanding-SnakeRiver |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
|
Description: Schwabacher Landing is 17 miles north of Jackson Wyoming. Beavers have constructed dams along the Snake River that provide habitat for waterfowl such as this Barrow’s Goldeneye. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:07 12:18 |
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Location:
Schwabacher Landing |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8507547-SchwabacherLanding-SnakeRiver |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: When I spotted Barrow’s Goldeneyes at the Quartermaster Marina, we stopped to take a few pictures of the grebes, scoters and buffleheads that share the water with them. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:14 14:29 |
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Location:
Burton |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8502505-VashonIsland |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
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Description: Water takeoff. New Meadows, Idaho. |
Date Taken: 2005:05:21 13:28 |
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Location:
New Meadows |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD2521-BarrowsGoldenEye |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
|
Description: When I spotted Barrow’s Goldeneyes at the Quartermaster Marina, we stopped to take a few pictures of the grebes, scoters and buffleheads that share the water with them. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:14 14:27 |
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Location:
Burton |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8502492-VashonIsland |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Barrow's Goldeneye(Bucephala islandica) |
|
Description: When I spotted Barrow’s Goldeneyes at the Quartermaster Marina, we stopped to take a few pictures of the grebes, scoters and buffleheads that share the water with them. |
Date Taken: 2022:04:14 14:30 |
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Location:
Burton |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BarrowsGoldeneye_8502518-VashonIsland |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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