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Barnacle Goose


Barnacle Goose
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2398 W: 94 N: 5543] (17640)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital JPEG
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/500 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-07-07 9:40
Viewed: 403
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. Despite its superficial similarity to the Brent Goose, genetic analysis has shown it is an eastern derivative of the Cackling Goose lineage.

Description
The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized goose with a white face and black head,all of the neck, and upper breast. Its belly is white. The wings and its back are silver-gray with black-and-white bars that look like they are shining when the light reflects on it. During flight a V-shaped white rump patch and the silver-gray underwing linings are visible.

Distribution
Barnacle Geese breed mainly on the Arctic islands of the North Atlantic. There are three main populations, with separate breeding and wintering ranges; from west to east:
• Breeding in eastern Greenland, wintering on the Hebrides of western Scotland and in western Ireland. Population about 40,000.
• Breeding on Svalbard, wintering on the Solway Firth on the England/Scotland border. Population about 24,000.
• Breeding on Novaya Zemlya, wintering in the Netherlands. Population about 130,000.
• A new fourth population, derived from the Novaya Zemlya population, has become established since 1975 breeding on the Baltic Sea islands (Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden), and wintering in the Netherlands. Population about 8,000.

Small numbers of feral birds, derived from escapes from zoo collections, also breed in other north European countries. Occasionally, a wild bird will appear in the Northeastern United States or Canada, but care must be taken to separate out wild birds from escaped individuals, as Barnacle Geese are popular waterfowl with collectors.

Ecology, behavior and life history.
Barnacle Geese frequently build their nests high on mountain cliffs; away from predators (primarily Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears) but also away from food. Like all geese, the goslings are not fed by the adults.

Instead of bringing food to the newly hatched goslings, the goslings are brought to the ground. Unable to fly, the three day old goslings jump off the cliff and fall; their small size, feathery down, and very light weight helps to protect some of them from serious injury when they hit the rocks below, but many die from the impact. Arctic foxes are attracted by the noise made by the parent geese during this time and capture many dead or injured goslings. The foxes also stalk the young as they are led by the parents to wetland feeding areas.

Its call is a "kaw".
siggi, cataclysta, zetu, Luis52, Argus, nasokoun, maurydv, nglen, valy67, jconceicao, eqshannon, jaycee, CeltickRanger, boreocypriensis, Juyona, rkailas, xTauruSx, haraprasan, albert, bahadir, zulfu, Noisette, jcoowanitwong has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1380 W: 56 N: 4759] (16364)
  • [2009-07-07 9:56]

Hello Peter,
Nice POV. Very good colours and sharpness. Detail is spot on. Nicely composed. Well done. Thanks.Best regards Siggi

Hi Peter
It is beautiful I like the natural surounding. Sharpness is also very good. There are very small overexposures on white parts - I think that little higlights reduction will help to repair this very small problem
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 652 W: 15 N: 1622] (6301)
  • [2009-07-07 10:05]

Hello Peter
I like it..well done.
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 656 W: 0 N: 228] (4950)
  • [2009-07-07 10:07]

Slav Peter,
Very good capture of this duck with splendid light and great sharp details.Niceliy colours and composition.WEll done!
Regards.
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1110 W: 5 N: 3457] (12761)
  • [2009-07-07 10:13]

Hola Peter.
Nice to see this beauty swiming. Lovely and fine details on Your photo. I also like the great light.
Saludos
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3824 W: 190 N: 11393] (35107)
  • [2009-07-07 10:18]

Hello Peter,
A fine close capture of a Barnacle Goose swimming among the lily pads to creat nice movement of the water. The Technical quality is superb and you took a fine low POV. Many have become established in Sweden now, including parks and I expect it is the same in Holland too.
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

hello Peter
pretty goose,pity that does not visit Greece, beautiful presentation with very good composition,detail and clarity also very fine
TFS
Nasos

  • Great 
  • sotos (73)
  • [2009-07-07 11:13]

hello peter
very nice capture beutiful colors and,good sharpnes and fine
composition
bravo
sotos

Hello Peter,
a very beautiful portrait of the Barnacle Goose taken from an excellent POV, superb sharpness and bright colours, i like the lovely posture in a splendid natural surroundings.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-07-07 11:48]

Hi Peter. A fine close up of the Barnacle Goose . I like the way you have captured it gliding through the water. With its refection . All with fine detail and colours. Well done TFS.
Nick..
Interesting notes too.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-07-07 12:24]

Hi Peter,the sharpness of this goose is fantastic! I like a lot the different background too,whit a lot of ninfea's leaves.Very nice work,my best compliments,Luciano

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-07-07 13:09]

Hello Peter !
Such a great picture of this Goose ! I love her pose, her colors, her markings... The sharpness and details are excellent, the colors look very natural, the composition and POV are outstanding. I also like the atmosphere of peace, of serenity of this picture, it is very pleasant to look at. Very well done !
Valérie.

Ciao Peter. This is a great sharpened and lightning capture. My best compliments.

Roberto

Hello Peter,

Fantastic shot.
Excellent colours with great definition.
Lighting and composition are splendid.
Good note.

Well seen Peter...you are a wealth of natural information and have quite the ability to pass it on through lens and word!
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-07-07 17:09]

Hi Peter,

A beautiful shot of this Barnacle Goose in a lovely setting with the lily pads. The face, eye and feathers are just wonderful. Lovely natural colors and superfine details. A superb composition.

Jane

hello Peter

beautiful close-up photo of the Barnacle Goose,
with fine POV & DOF, excellent sharpness and details,

TFS

Asbed

Hi and Good Morning MF Peter,
A delightful capture of this cute Barnacle Goose from fine POV with wonderful composition and neat details.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2633] (15577)
  • [2009-07-07 22:58]

Hola amigo,
buena captura,
detalles y fina compo.
excelente trabajo,
saludos Pêter

Hi Peter

Excellent light and educative POV on this one. Excellent notes as well.
TFS
Ravi

Hello Peter, wonderful shot of this goose with wonderful details and nice composition.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hi Peter,
A nice capture of this beautiful Barnacle Goose. Very well composed with good details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Peter
Nice capture with fine POV of this beautiful goose
TFS
Albert

Hello Peter, wonderful shot of this beautiful duck with beautiful colours and details.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1065 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2009-07-08 7:37]

Hello Peter, superb shot of this pretty goose.
TFS and G's,
Mehmet

Hello Peter,

Excellent POV and very pleasant background
Very well done!
TFS
Mark

Hello Peter
fine low POV from the profil of this Barnacle Goose taken with very fine details
the beautiful lighting illuminated this photo very nicely
great composition and superb colors
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Hello Peter,
Very nice picture of this Barnacle Goose. Lovely pov and well presented. TFS,
JC

Ciao Peter, lovely goose with splendid colors, fascinating reflections, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hello Peter
Merci pour ces beaux canards. ils sont peu fréquent dans nos régions.
Amicalement
Laurent

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