Hi tweets,

George Gerdts and I studied the subject loon yesterday (3 18 2000) afternoon
about 3 PM from the Priest Rapids dam at about 300 yards. Not close but close
enough at 60x to clearly see that it showed all the distinctive features
ascribed to the winter plumaged ARCTIC vis a vis COMMON and PACIFIC LOONS
with the exception of the lack of vent strap, which was of course not visible
as the bird swam or slept during the hour we had it in view. We saw in
addition just four other loons on the reservoir, all Commons, including one
molting into alternate plumage.

1) extensive white flanks, broadest toward the rear;
2) bill held at a substantial angle above the horizontal, shaped more like
Pacific than Common;
3) very clean contrasting white throat and breast without hint of a
chin-strap;
4) crown and nape the same dark silvery-gray, margined black;
5) slightly angled forecrown.

No sign of the Lesser Black-backed Gull along the Walla Walla, though a
couple thousand California and Ring-billed Gulls at the delta in the late PM.

Three hundred SANDHILL CRANES near Smyrna along Crab Creek 3 19 2000.
A single FERRUGINOUS HAWK moving north at McNary NWR, Walla Walla Co. 3 19
2000.
A courting pair of LONG-BILLED CURLEWS on the ALE Reserve nw of Richland 3 19
2000.
Four SAGE SPARROWS, one singing, at "the usual spot" in Schnebly Coulee,
Kittitas Co., 3 18 2000.

Gene Hunn. (note new home e-mail address: ENHunn at aol.com)