Pacific Loon -- York County, PA

Peter Robinson (peterrobins@hotmail.com)
Sun, 14 Jun 1998 13:20:50 PDT


PA Birders --

The Pacific Loon was still at Long Arm Reservoir when I left at 1PM 
today.  It was also still diving a lot, making it difficult to get a 
good look at it.

After hearing about a field guide that mentions that Artic Loon have a 
white rear flank patch, then meeting Nick Pulcinella who came to see the 
bird and said that the white rear flank patch is diagnostic, then 
finding the April 1997 Birding magazine in my basement that discusses 
the Arctic's white rear flank patch and other differences  between 
Pacific and Arctic Loons, then looking at the video film footage that I 
was able to get, I am convinced that the bird is a Pacific Loon, and NOT 
an Arctic Loon.

Nick said that if accepted by the records committee, it will be the 4th 
or 5th PA record for Pacific Loon.

Hopefully it will stay awhile so others can see it.                   

Directions:  Take Route 194 (Frederick Street) southwest from the center 
of Hanover.  Turn left (south) onto Westminster Avenue.  Go past south 
Hills Golf Course, across Narrow/Fairview Drive, and past Impounding Dam 
road that goes off to the left.  Go STRAIGHT onto Grand Valley road, 
which makes a sharp left turn below the dam.  The bird was towards the 
far side of the Reservoir, across from the boat launch.  


Peter Robinson                 Two is company, 6 Billion is a crowd.
Hanover, York County, PA        
peterrobins@hotmail.com        Too many people >> Too little habitat.
                                 


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