Hi All,
While looking at the Thick-billed Murre in the OC inlet yesterday Feb24 I
photographed a small loon swimming right past us. It came out of one of
the man-made canals leading out into the inlet, and I was so keen on
photographing it I didn't really pay attention to the details on the bird.
However, going through the pictures this morning I now suspect it to be a
first-winter Pacific Loon. It did not have the straight, slightly upcurved
bill of a Red-throated Loon and is a lot darker on the chins and neck than
any other Red-throated Loon I saw in OC yesterday.

A photo of the bird has been posted at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37699157@N00/402311822/

I would greatly appreciate comments on the bird.

I encourage people to keep an eye out for the bird. I last saw it swim
under the US50 bridge toward Skimmer Island.

If it should turn out to be a Pacific Loon, I apologize for not letting
the word out sooner.

Good birding,
Frode Jacobsen
Baltimore, MD