Subject: Arctic Loons and Sibley
Date: Dec 22 23:16:36 2001
From: Robert Norton - norton36 at olypen.com


No person can tell just what you saw on a particular bird that they did
not see. In this particular case, Patrick Sullivan is, of course, quite
correct that Red-throated Loons can have very white flanks. However, the
sharp demarcation of the white and the different amount of white on the
cheeks would make me think that ithe Brady Loop bird was indeed an Arctic
Loon.
Pictures in the books are very helpful but often the bird doesn't look
like the ones in the book. Also many persons can look at a bird and then at
the book and pick out the wrong bird. A similar situation occurs frequently
in police lineups. By far the best thing when you think you have a rare bird
is to write down all the details you see before consulting a guide. Record
committees love it when you can say that you wrote details down before
consulting a guide.
Bob Norton
Joyce (near Port Angeles), WA
norton36 at olypen.com