Eugene Hunn wrote:
"I have several times nearly got caught out calling an immature
Double-crested Cormorant a Yellow-billed Loon and have suffered
momentary confusion with Red-necked Grebes. It is essential to know more
of the observers experience and the circumstances of the sighting to be
sure."

Gene: You are right to be cautious. They were loons, for sure, and not
cormorants (I've made that mistake, and learned from it) or grebes, of
that I am sure. As far as loon species, I've certainly got some
learning to do. You mention favoring "a combination of bill color,
shape, size, position plus the tannish plumage tone and the dark ear
patch on wintering Yellow-billeds." What are some of the signs you look
for? The loon, as I mentioned in a post today, I saw had a bright
yellow bill, and was in a "bright" plumage, too.