I want to say thanks for all the feedback I received on this sighting.
�
I "released-the-floodgates" so to speak and received a lot of comments. They are all appreciated. Everyone seems to feel this bird is a very-strong candidate for a Pacific Loon. Some feel it is inconclusive, some feel it is conclusive. I personally believe it is. I feel the proportions of the bird, viewed at many different angles (as Frode pointed out the appearance of a chin-strap that shows itself through-out the video at different points) never deviate from what a Pacific Loon should be, and all pieces of structure,�proportions, markings are too prevalent to be coincidental. I also saw the bird in person, and it struck me as being far too slight to be a Common Loon from the get-go. This combined with hours of loon research over this past week. I have absorbed everyone's stance, and respect everyone's stance on the sighting. I just have to go with my gut.
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Regardless, I just wanted to thank everyone for the informative replies on this bird. It is much appreciated. Frode, thanks especially for sticking-your-neck-out and voicing your opinion on the bird to the whole list. I know we share the same opinion on it, and you certainly didn't have to do that.�
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Thanks again all,
�
Jon�
From: Edward Boyd <edboyd59...>
To: Frode Jacobsen <frodesjacobsen...>
Cc: Maryland Birding <mdbirding...>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2012 10:07 AM
Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Probable PACIFIC LOON at Fort Howard Park
Hi Frode,
Yes, all of those elements appear to be present in the grabs. The problem that I had was that there were only a few seconds of useful video and the rest was obstructed or out of position. I've seen too many instances where conversions and enlargements can bring out inaccuracies that aren't present. The video was taken in low light and is exceptionally contrasty; the edges between dark and light don't seem to be crisp, leaving open the opportunity for the observer to read things into it. The softness of the grab images can leave out necessary details. None of Jon's shots clearly show the bill sharply, what I've seen show a fuzzy line with no clear definition to the edges. I don't see a down curved bill -straight yes but I wouldn't describe it as down curved. No loon has a down curved bill unless you are describing the shape of the upper mandible. The original video may show all of those details more clearly.
That said, I think the bird looks great for Pacific Loon. I would be happier if the bird were more clearly/sharply seen in the evidence presented so that nothing is left to be read into it is all that I'm saying.
Thanks,
Ed
On Dec 14, 2012 9:47 AM, "Frode Jacobsen" <frodesjacobsen...> wrote:
Ed, thanks for posting the photos of the Common Loon seen on Saturday. Comparing these images to the most recent video still Jon posted on Flickr really shows the diagnostic differences between the two birds. No disrespect Ed, but I can't see anything in Jon's photos that is not a perfect fit to a Pacific Loon. The sleek and slightly down curved bill, rounded head shape, thick cobra-like neck, (thus appearing disproportionately large-headed relative to its small body), contrasting black and white plumage with only a narrow white cheek strap on a mostly dark head. A narrow dark strap across the throat is also clearly visible on some of the frontal shots on the bird, supposedly another clincher field mark for this species. I simply don't understand what renders this observation inconclusive, because in my view this bird is a "text-book" exemplar!
>
>Respectfully,
>Frode Jacobsen
>Windsor Mill,MD
>
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