Hello tweeters,
I welcome comments on this sighting... We live on the west Brady Loop Road
in Grays Harbor County. The Chehalis River flooded this week leaving us
with waterfront property. The water level was approximately 7 feet deep
directly in front of our house. Friday morning we observed a loon swimming
and diving along the front of the house and further out in what used to be
pasture. At one point the bird was 30-40 feet away from us as we looked
down at it from our window. The bird first caught our attention due to the
sharply delineated white patch on its rear flank. It had a clear white
throat and light barring on its back. The area around the white patch was
dark, not barred. When diving we could see white undertail coverts. Not
being all that familiar with loons, we consulted Sibleys. The bird seemed
to match exactly the juvenile arctic loon illustrated on pg. 24. In
corresponding with Patrick Sullivan he suggests it could have been a
red-throated loon. Again looking at Sibley's "our" bird did not have the
white face of a non-breeding adult or the grayish neck of the juvenile.
Furthermore the white patch was more sharply defined. I know the arctic loon
is extremely rare and out of its saltwater/deepwater habitat, but. . . I got
such a good look at it and its comparison to Sibley's drawing was so
exact... Not knowing how rare this could be, I did not even think to take a
photo. (And it was so close, it would have been an easy shot!!!!) Anyway,
comments would be appreciated.
Carol Boyer
Brady

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