(Fwd) PACIFIC LOON IN WASHINGTON DC
Fran Saunders (saunderf@ARI.Net)
Thu, 28 May 1998 16:55:53 +0000
The following is forwarded from ID-Frontiers since I know
many of you will find it of interest.
Fran
RE: PACIFIC LOON IN WASHINGTON DC
Found on Monday, the bird was still present on Wednesday 5/27.
On 5/26, I studied the bird for 45 min. as it floated on the
water in the middle of Washington Channel about 1/2 way along the
north side of Haine's Point. The bird was not quite in breeding
plumage but very close. I breeding plumaged and two non-breeding
plumaged Common Loons were very close by but not side-by-side.
Feeling Arctic Loon to be possible, I critically examined it with
an eye for distinquishing one from the other. Although I hadn't
heard of anyone considering Arctic, later on Tuesday evening I
was told a few observers did consider Arctic (Rob Hilton pers.
comm). On 5/27, several of us saw it from as close as five feet
as it worked along the seawall on Haine's Pt. Several times, it
was observed swimming by just benieth the surface.
The loon observations included floated with neck relaxed and head
pointed ahead, sleeping with head over shoulder, preening,
diving.
The problem was not narrowing to pacifica/arctica but the
separation of one from the other.
Structure
long, sleek body, low on water, long rear end. When far away,
body long in proportion to head and neck while up close body
short and blunt. Neck and head virtually consistent in contour,
parallel throughout length, narrowing only at bill. Bill black,
short, thin. Bill depth at base less than distance from base to
eye. Bill length about 1.5 times distance from base to eye.
Bill shape parallel on both edges for 3/4 length, both mandibles
turning inward to form point. Eye centrally located on head.
Plumage
Near breeding. Lores, auriculars, chin, and throat black. Eye
included in black. Merging to textured ash-gray on crown, nape
and hind neck. Nape palest, chalky whitish-gray. Sides of neck
with narrow black/white longitudinal stripes. At distance hardly
visible but up close appeared wavy, thin and untidy. Chin strape
absent. Black throat ended sharply on white breast and formed a
low black neck band that separated the neck striping from the
breast and sides. Body black with variable white squares forming
small neat rows on back and mantle. Lower mantle with white
specs.
Rump and tail black. Flanks dark blackish-brown, paling to
waterline.
Sometimes it appeared to have white the length of body at
waterline, other times patchy. Never clear flank patch. Rolled
often. Blackish band across legs of variable width.
Identification
Structure, bill depth and length, high rounded puffy crown
(rather than lower, oblong) indicate pacifica. Further, lack of
chin strap, poorly defined neck stripes, black breast ring,
two-toned nape, and vent strap point conclusively to pacifica. I
video taped the bird on Wednesday. While I have only seen one
arctica (Nov 96, Bodega Bay, CA) I have seen thousands of Pacific
Loons. This is only the second I've seen on the east coast, the
first Jan 71 at Ocean City, MD (not accepted by MD comm).
David Abbott
Ashburn VA
dfabbott@compuserve.com
--------------------------------
Fran Saunders
Maryland Ornithological Society
State Web Site Director
saunderf@ari.net
http://www2.ari.net/saunderf/mos/mos.html