This posting is my first to tweeters as I am a "lurker" by Nature. However,

the re-appearence today (30 Jan.) of an albino loon compels me to share.

Leslie Ann Rose and I first observed the loon from our deck the 28th and
29th of last
November, but were unable to share (confirm?) the sighting with others at that
time (it moved before they could get here). Our home is on Commencement Bay in

Tacoma on Marineview Drive.

Marcus Roenig and Bruce Labar of TAS were interested and stopped by to watch the

diving, preening and posing performance. After 20 to 30 minutes of observation

the loon hid out among some log rafts and no longer was seen. About a half
hour

after Bruce and Marcus left Thais Bock of Rainier / Tahoma Audubon came over
for

a look-see. The loon was apparently impressed by Thais' presence and showed

again to be " oooo'd and aaa'd " over.

Bruce and Marcus felt that the loon was a Common based on lack of the upward

tilt bywhich a Yellow Billed holds its head. Thais was non-committal. The
loon

wouldn't say.

To me it was a large, white feathered, dark eyed,

feet-that-were-flesh-colored loon - - - with a large, heavy, yellow bill and a

sharply upward slanted lower mandible.


David Adams
Tacoma, WA