Re: [MDOsprey] No more news on YBLO???

Patty Craig (pattycraig@mail.ameritel.net)
Sun, 07 Nov 1999 09:18:04 -0500 

Phil,

I would like to explain my little boat survey a little better.  We started from
Solomons and we proceeded quickly to about Greenwell.  From Greenwell we went
much slower to Benedict.  I looked at all the loons that were up on our way.
The water was very glassy and the lighting was good enough to quickly eliminated
many individuals.  We found 159 loons, all common, that we were sure were not
counted twice.  We saw what could have been one Red-throated Loon, but it was
definitely not a YBLO so we did not go close enough to really I.D.   My point
was that if the loons were not up at the moment we past they may have been
overlooked due to the speed, however the loons were not quick to dive due to our
boat.   But we certainly did not ignore individuals.  Groups just took us longer
to be sure of their identity.   On the return trip the river was much choppier
and the light was shining off the water so we basically saw nothing.  We did not
go into any coves because the boat owners had other things to do.

Friday I had called two boat owners, asking if they would take me out.  Neither
was available.  But both said they would take me Saturday.  The other one, my
step father, really would rather be fishing so I let him.  He asked about the
details on the loon so he could be looking, but evidently "CB"ed all the
fishermen on the river.  They were all looking yesterday and came up with
nothing.

Good Birding,
Patty Craig
Dameron, MD
pattycraig@mail.ameritel.net

Phil Davis wrote:

> You got it right, Greg.
>
> We left the Sandgates around 4pm after previously checking out Greenwell
> State Park.  No loon luck.
>
> I know a number of people (like Gary Felton) also travelled down to Point
> Lookout.  Don't know if anyone worked the Calvert County side of the
> river.  Sounds like Patty's sweep of the whole river was a pretty thorough
> check, however.
>
> One note, someone told me Patty headed via boat to each loon flock and
> slowed to check them out.  Doug Forsell of AA County was at the Sandgate
> Inn today .. Doug is with USFWS and has done aerial transects of waterfowl
> in Alaska.  He says that YBLOs are typically "loners" .... so it might be
> more important to look at the "singletons" than the flocks.
>
> Just a thought.
>
> I probably will not head down there tomorrow ...   Call if you hit a strike.
>
>          301-261-0184            home
>          301-502-7325            cell ... I'll leave it on.
>
> Phil
>
>
>
> ================================================
> Phil Davis
>
> home:   PDavis@ix.netcom.com    Davidsonville, Maryland USA
> work:   PDavis@OAO.com          Greenbelt, Maryland             USA
> ================================================