Gary and Marion Otnes wrote:

>WOW!! Just returned from birding Westport and area from Sept 8-Sept
>20, '96. Compared to Westport, birding in Minnesota at that time of
>year is like birding in your basement. With the lights turned off!
>We walked endless miles of beach at least twice daily; sat on jettys;
>skulked thru underbrush; took several pelagics in a friends 21 foot
>boat.
>We, wife and I, got over a hundred species. Here's the highlights:

>Adult Arctic Loon...1...white flank patch showing.

Has this species been recorded in Washington before? I know that at least
one of the ones that has been seen here in California has become somewhat
controversial, so its well worth documenting and submitting the information
to the local committees as there is still a lot to learn with this species.
I am not doubting the sighting, but given its extreme rarity I would love to
see more information on it. I for one really want to learn more about
identification of this species as I am confident that it is under reported
from our side of the Pacific.

Cheers,

Al.

Alvaro Jaramillo Where there's smoke doesn't mean
Half Moon Bay, CA there is fire.
alvaro at quake.net Just means there's smoke.


http://www.quake.net/~alvaro/index.html