January 5, 2012
This being the first Thursday of the month, there was a 3PM birdwalk
around the Luther Goldman Birding Trail at Lake Artemesia, College
Park, PG county. Six of us enjoyed the lovely afternoon. Part way
around the lake we ran into two passersby with binoculars going the
other direction. We talked briefly. They mentioned a loon on the
water at the south end of the lake. Since loons are pretty uncommon
here this time of year, I asked "Common?" to probe for more
information. The response was "probably", and "we see one here a
couple of times every year". Then we continued on our separate ways.
I decided we should check so we hurried to the other side of the
peninsula and sure enough, there was a large bird swimming near the far
shore that looked like a loon. But through the scope, this bird
appeared too slender and lacked the contrasty black-and-white appearance
I was expecting. Its neck and face were mostly white. The dark on its
neck wasn't as dark as I expected and was confined to a narrow strip up
the back of the bird's neck and to the top of its head above the eye.
The division between the dark hindneck and white throat was smooth,
lacking the indentations of a Common Loon.
This RED-THROATED LOON posed just long enough for everyone on the walk
to get a quick look, then it took flight, circled the lake once passing
by at point-blank range. It continued to circle, gaining altitude
until it was just a speck. I finally lost it behind a flock of circling
Ring-billed Gulls.
This sighting was in the Bowie CBC circle and being the last day of
count week is the second species added this year to the cumulative list
for that count.
If the couple who told me about this bird reads this or if anyone knows
who they are, please let me know so I can give proper credit for this
record.
David Mozurkewich
Seabrook MD
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