Hi Tweeters,

I came home from four rainy days on the west (or wet) side to find many
e-mails about the reported Arctic Loon at Wanapum Dam. The general opinion
seems to be that people shouldn't be in such a rush to report a rarity of
this caliber.

All of the hoopla seemed to end when Charlie Wright and Scott Downes looked
for it and Charlie pronounced it a Common Loon. Perhaps Charlie and Scott
didn't find the Arctic Loon but did see a Common Loon that showed lots of
white on the sides. Just because they didn't see anything that looked like
an Arctic Loon doesn't mean one isn't there, it just means they didn't see it.

This is just another case, like the Arctic Loon at Priest Rapids in 2000, in
which more people have to try to find it and get better photos. With Craig
Corder's report of January 3 it seems that there might indeed be an Arctic
Loon at Priest Rapids.

When I was there on December 29 there were several Common Loons showing lots
of white on their sides. I am sure that I saw the Arctic Loon in the
company of a Pacific Loon that afternoon, though my photos are inconclusive.
The (according to my identification) Pacific Loon was showing lots of white
on the sides the entire time I saw it but the bird I thought was the Arctic
Loon didn't show any. The white on the sides is just not a very good field
mark on which to identify loons, in my opinion.

I am hoping to go looning again this weekend and hopefully will see lots of
you there.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA
* * * * * * * * * * *
* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* osprey at nwinfo.net *
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