Subject: Ruff today, loons yesterday
Date: Dec 31 21:16:14 2002
From: Birdking88 at aol.com - Birdking88 at aol.com


Greetings Tweeters,

As others have posted the first basic male Ruff was *very* easy to see
all day today, when Carol Schulz and I observed it along with quite a few
other birders during two visits to Moore Rd. During the rest of the day we
had a couple of other interesting birds. A female Redhead was at Vance Creek
Co Park (where it has been for several weeks), and an adult tan-striped
White-throated Sparrow was in a large flock of various sparrows in the
stubblefields along the north part of Wenzel Slough Rd. We searched hard for
any Swamp Sparrows, but did not find any. Several Golden-crowned Sparrows at
one point were giving calls I had never heard before; actually very similar
to a Swamp Sparrow's loud, somewhat metallic call note. A White-tailed Kite
was present at the same location.

I wanted to post my opinion on the odd loon that has been in Wanapum
Lake since last Thursday. To me this bird looks like a somewhat typical
Common Loon if you disregard the white sides. There is no "chinstrap," but
the neck is very thick with jagged "zigzag" markings on the sides like a
Common Loon, and shows a partial white necklace remnant from alternate
plumage. The bill is rather thick and about the same length as the head. The
bill was not held at above horizontal at any time, and the head was rather
blocky with a steep forehead. The upperparts and the back of the neck were
dark brown with no frostiness or pale gray. For several minutes this bird was
listing to one side and flapping its foot in the air (to keep the blood
circulating?). This bird had very large feet, unlike Pacific and Arctic.
Overall it definitely had the jizz of a Common Loon. I've seen occasional
Commons which do show the white flanks, contrary to all of the books I've
checked which have stated that the white flanks are distinctive for Arctic in
any plumage. Obviously this isn't true as at least two of the other Common
Loons in the area of Wanapum Dam yesterday also showed fairly extensive white
on the flanks, almost as much as this bird. To wrap it up, I personally
believe from what I know currently that this bird is a Common Loon, but this
is only my opinion. My (poor) video captures will be posted soon.

At any rate, the immature Yellow-billed Loon was very cooperative in
the area of the spillway and made for a nice consolation prize. This bird is
molting primaries and very likely is not able to fly at this time, so it
should stick around for quite a while longer. There were also seven Barrow's
Goldeneyes in the area.

Good birding in the new year everyone,

Charlie Wright
Birdking88 at aol.com
Sumner, WA
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