Scott Ray wrote,

>A Pacific Loon was found along the east side of the Columbia River south
of
>Orondo in Douglas County yesterday, October 26. It was diving close to
the
>road between mile posts 138 and 139.

Pacific Loons are defintely on the increase in North Central Washington. I
wouldn't be surprised to find them become even more numerous as this
follows the trend set by other species as they "discover" the water
impoundments in E. Washington. It's also only been in the last several
years that Double-crested Cormorants have become year around residents, and
a few years before that when Greater Scaup replaced the Lesser as the
predominate of the pair.

Pacific Loons also feed in water where they appear to be rubbing their
bellies on the bottom--right up next to shore just sort of poking their
head under water. You notice the unique behavior before you even realize
it's a loon you're looking at!

Jerry_Tangren at tfrec.ncw.net