Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica. First-winter male, Rochester WWTP, NH, December 30th, 2004.

This young male Barrow’s Goldeneye was first noted at the nearby Pickering Ponds on November 23rd and has remained at Rochester since that date and, until the freeze, was usually in the company of several Common Goldeneyes. By late December is was often the only diving duck present and usually afforded excellent views. The short, deep bill and faintly developing white facial crescent, along with the deep chocolate brown color to the head are notable in these shots. Some flight shots of the same bird can also be viewed here.

All images were taken using a Nikon Coolpix 995 through a Swarovski Habicht AT 80 HD telescope.