Barrow's Goldeneye Manistee 2/4/2019

   On January 13, Linda Scribner found a Barrow's Goldeneye in Manistee Lake.  I unsuccessfully tried to view the bird a couple of times in the following 10 days.

   On January 27 with the lake icing up which greatly reduced the amount of open water, Linda refound the bird at Seng's Marina at 47 Lake St.  The bird and its Common Goldeneye cousins were taking advantage of the marina's bubblers that helped keep the water ice-free.

Hanging with a female Common Goldeneye.

   In the 6 day span from the January 27 to February 2  the local semi-official weather spotter measured just over 23" of snow which was accompanied by strong winds and temperatures ranging from 17F down to -8F.  This severe weather prevented me from making another attempt at the Barrow's until today.
 
   The bird not only was still at the marina today, it was the first male Goldeneye that I saw when I pulled up to the docks.

Crescent face patch and blacker back distinguish it from Common Goldeneye drakes.