Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
Snow Geese breed in the high Arctic and spend winters in several locations in the continental USA and Mexico. We find these birds, in their winter homes, often in huge numbers near grain fields. California’s Central Valley, the Salton Sea, and New Mexico’s Bosque del Apache are great locations to meet large winter gatherings of these birds.
Snow Geese and their close relatives, Ross’s Geese, are relentless grazers, stripping the land in many places in the Arctic where they graze. This concerns some researches regarding the negative impact on the environment. Considering these birds have expanded their nesting range since the 1950s, these concerns may have merit.
Today’s science recognises two subspecies of Snow Geese. A. c. caerulescens breeds on Wrangle Island, northern Alaska, and northern Canada east to Baffin Island. A. c. atlantica breeds on northern Baffin Bay and northwest Greenland.
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:12:01 10:18 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: JCD3307SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Colusa NWR, near Williams, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:18 13:09 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_5280SnowGeese |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Foraging in the water at the Sacramento NWR, near Willows, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:17 16:40 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD_5164SnowGeese |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, near Willows, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:17 16:28 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_5136SnowGeese |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Afternoon Siesta. Sacramento NWR, near Willows, Northern California. |
Date Taken: 2003:12:17 16:07 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD_5110SnowGeese |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: "Blue" for of the Snow Goose at Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2005:02:16 17:27 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD_4121SnowGeeseBLUE |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Overwhelming numbers. Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2005:02:16 14:38 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 490 mm, f/13.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_3419SnowGeese |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Overwhelming numbers. Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2005:02:16 14:38 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_3412SnowGeese |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Resting in the early morning on water at Bosque del Apache. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2001:11:30 8:52 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A1L30e24-SnowGoose |
| © 2001 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2001:11:29 8:52 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A1L29g27-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Blue Morph. Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2001:11:29 8:52 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache |
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Camera Information: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 4000 ED, |
File Name: A1L29c30-SnowGoose |
| © 2001 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: South San Diego Bay near the Chula Vista Marina. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:18 9:23 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD5742.SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 10:44 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X6223-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:12:01 10:13 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD3262SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Coming in for a landing at Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 12:40 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X6586-SnowGoose |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 12:40 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X6584-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 12:39 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X6579-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 12:00 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X6518-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 12:00 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X6503-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 11:48 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X6469-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Until they take flight en masse, the number of birds does not seem impressive. Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 11:45 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X6437-SnowGoose |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 11:42 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X6424-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Swimming trio at Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 11:36 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X6390-SnowGoose |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 11:33 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X6379-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Sacramento NWR, between Willows and Williams, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:12:31 11:24 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X6328-SnowGoose |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Overwhelming numbers. Bosque del Apache NWR. Near Socorro, New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2005:02:16 14:38 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache |
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Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/13.0, 1/640 |
File Name: JCD_3412SnowGeese |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: (Anser caerulescens) Captured grazing very near the tour road on 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 12:54 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 500 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D506587-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Making landfall at Cibola NWR in Arizina, south of Blythe, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:24 16:32 |
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Location:
Goose Loop |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X2185-SnowGoose |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: These juveniles (gray bills) are wisely staying close and following the adult on this afternoon at Unit 1 (Vendel Road), Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:10 16:40 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X0022-VendelRoad |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: These juveniles (gray bills) are wisely staying close and following the adult on this afternoon at Unit 1 (Vendel Road), Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:10 16:40 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X0018-VendelRoad |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: The lease bird looks like a Ross's Goose to me. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:23 15:07 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X1700-SnowGoose |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: (Anser caerulescens) Captured on liftoff when a young Bald Eagle flew over the loafing pond. Look closely and you'll see a few Ross's Geese mixed in the flock. 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 13:42 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGoose-Liftoff_D506888-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Captured on liftoff when a young Bald Eagle flew over the loafing pond. Look closely and you'll see a few Ross's Geese mixed in the flock. 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 13:42 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGoose-Liftoff_D506885-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Captured on liftoff when a young Bald Eagle flew over the loafing pond. Look closely and you'll see a few Ross's Geese mixed in the flock. 2019-01-21 at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge near Willows California (USA). |
Date Taken: 2019:01:21 13:41 |
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Location:
Sacramento NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGoose-Liftoff_D506848-Sacramento-NWR |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: This blue-phase Snow Goose knows how to stand out in a crowd. Numbers of white geese at Bosque were low during my visit, but the Ross's Geese seemed to outnumber the Snow Geese. It was a relatively slow day for birds at Bosque del Apache, but even a slow day there beats most places I’ve birded. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:30 15:14 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X4242-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Numbers of white geese at Bosque were low during my visit, but the Ross's Geese seemed to outnumber the Snow Geese. It was a relatively slow day for birds at Bosque del Apache, but even a slow day there beats most places I’ve birded. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:30 10:53 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X2707-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: The blue morph of Snow Goose is sometimes called a Blue Goose. I hadn’t planned to photograph geese during this second morning tour, but when I met them so close to the road, I changed my mind. Precisely halfway between Albuquerque and Bosque del Apache is the state reserve at Ladd S. Gordon’s Bernardo Unit, where cranes and geese are now visiting more than at Bosque. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:19 10:20 |
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Location:
Bernardo |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X9721-Bernardo_Unit |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Snow Geese numbers have dwindled over the past few years at Bosque, but when a swarm of several thousand descends, it can still dazzle. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 11:27 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X0344-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: When a swarm of several thousand white geese descended before me, their first order of business was to quench their thirst. The second priority was to bathe. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 11:32 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X0452-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: With the close approach of white geese, capturing these headshots seemed like a good idea. Snow Geese numbers have dwindled over the past few years at Bosque, but when a swarm of several thousand white geese descends, it can still dazzle. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 12:06 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X0911-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: With the close approach of white geese, capturing these headshots seemed like a good idea. Snow Geese numbers have dwindled over the past few years at Bosque, but when a swarm of several thousand white geese descends, it can still dazzle. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 14:09 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/22.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X1426-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Wintering Snow Geese numbers were high during my visit. I first visited Bitterlake NWR outside of Roswell New Mexico in April 2020. This visit was a winter sampling of the reserve’s wildlife. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:25 10:25 |
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Location:
Bitterlake NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X2097-Bitterlake-Roswell-NM |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Snow Geese numbers have dwindled over the past few years at Bosque, but when a swarm of several thousand descends, it can still dazzle. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 14:05 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/22.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X1408-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Snow Geese numbers have dwindled over the past few years at Bosque, but when a swarm of several thousand descends, it can still dazzle. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 13:45 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 400 mm, f/22.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X1319-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
|
Description: With the close approach of white geese, capturing these headshots seemed like a good idea. Snow Geese numbers have dwindled over the past few years at Bosque, but when a swarm of several thousand white geese descends, it can still dazzle. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 11:48 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/8000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X0690-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
|
Description: When a swarm of several thousand white geese descended before me, their first order of business was to quench their thirst. The second priority was to bathe. The world famous Bosque del Apache may not be the center of the geese and crane universe today that it once was, but it can still provide a few thrills. A tour on this Tuesday in December taught me this lesson. |
Date Taken: 2020:12:22 11:53 |
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Location:
Bosque del Apache NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SnowGoose_D5X0729-BosqueDelApache |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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