Jerry Broadus wrote:

>Anyway, they were, I'm sure from posture and general look, small to medium
>sized loons. Light colored bills, very light grey, not quite yellow. They
>had white breasts, throat and neck, making a strong contrast with a black or
>dark grey back, the contrast looked about as strong as in a western grebe,
>but these didn't have the erect look of a grebe, nor was the neck as long
>(unless they were keeping it bent) nor did the white run up as high on the
>face. Most interesting was a tawny color on the nape, which really reflected
>a "lion's mane" sort of color when they faced away from the light. They
>never flew, just dove and swam around.
>
>Looking in my guides, I haven't found any loon that looks quite right. My
>European guide is the only one that shows immature plumage, and from that I
>wonder if they were immature pacific loons. Is that a likely sighting for
>that locale this time of year?

It is a likely sighting, as small numbers of immature Pacific Loons summer
in the region. Characteristic of the immatures is a dark back and paler
head, although I wouldn't have called it tawny. At this time of year,
immature seabirds are at their scruffiest, probably in the middle of molt
or at least very worn from having had the same feather coat for a year.

Immature loons have pale bills that turn darker as they mature.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416