Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 10:16:51 EDT Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Bob Mumford Subject: Re: Loons at Clopper Lake MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I checked out the loons at Clopper Lake this AM. All three are still present as of 9:30. The two commons were swimming very close together; the Pacific was by him/herself. Two characteristics not mentioned previously re the Pacific. Close looks from some angles give the bill a very slight downward curve. This can be seen in several of the photos posted by Dave C. I think this is simply the shape of the upper mandible. Also, there is a thin light patch on the flanks of the bird that can sometimes be seen. This could not be seen in Dave's photos, but it is consistent with one of the images in National Geo for a winter adult. The alternate plumage nape feathers appear to be coming out and are now "pin feathers" that appear scruffy. I saw all three birds from Kingfisher Overlook. They could not be seen from the boat dock. Bob Mumford Darnestown ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================