"ON A WING & A PRAYER"

Barrow's Goldeneye - 7 Photos

It was a fairly quiet day beside the river, a few Common Goldeneyes & Mallards & an occasional sighting of a muskrat when in flew a male & female Goldeneye. 

Because they were relatively close as they flew by and lit by the sun, I thought I saw some "not so usual" markings. I knew they were Goldeneyes but once they had landed, I spotted the telltale white crescent marking on the male Barrow's Goldeneye.

Not so often sighted during the Winter months in Calgary, they can sometimes be seen in among the Common Goldeneye groupings. And even though, this male had brought his mate with him, he was still being chased off by the Common Goldeneyes as the courtship water wars continue.

So it was on a wing or four for the Barrow's Goldeneyes & a prayer to Nature from me that I had indeed spotted a "not so common" Goldeneye. :)

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6 - Male Barrow's Goldeneye (foreground) & Female Barrow's Goldeneye (background)

PHOTO #7 - Barrow's Goldeneye (left of photo) & Common Goldeneye (right of photo)