Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis

f7.1 @ 1/1000s, ISO:800, Nikon D300S w 300mm and 1.4X tele-converter


\"Barnacle Goose,\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 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. The Barnacle Goose is a medium-sized goose, 55–70 cm (22–28 in) long, with a wingspan of 130–145 cm (51–57 in) and a body mass of 1.21–2.23 kg (2.7–4.9 lb). It has a white face and black head, 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.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 on Svalbard, wintering on the Solway Firth on the England/Scotland border. Population about 24,000.
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway
 
08/15/2010