Barrow's Goldeneye (female) and ducklings, River Laxá, Iceland

River Laxá, Lake Mývatn, Mývatn-Laxá Nature Conservation Area, Norðurland eystra, Iceland (June 2014)

The female Barrow's Goldeneye is generally distinguished from the female Common Goldeneye by having a smaller bill which is mostly yellow. However, this bird appears to have an almost completely black bill. Apparently, it is quite usual for the female Barrow's Goldeneye to abandon her hatchlings which are then 'fostered' by another female. There were ten ducklings associated with this female. The ducklings were very cute and were paddling furiously against the strong river current to keep up with their 'foster' mum. Lake Mývatn, 30 miles (48 km) east of Akureyri, is the only place in Europe where Barrow's Goldeneyes breed. The River Laxá flows north out of Lake Mývatn towards the Greenland Sea.

For more information on this bird species see the following links:
Barrow's Goldeneye / Internet Bird Collection
Barrow's Goldeneye / Bird Forum
BirdLife International / Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
All About Birds / Barrow's Goldeneye

Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/1600
Av(Aperture Value) 5.6
Exposure Compensation +2/3
ISO Speed 2000