Yesterday's visit to Wanapum Dam pointed out two things to me.

First, only the single Red-throated and Yellow-billed Loons were easily
distinguished. Several Common Loons up close were pretty easy to tell, but
those at a distance tended to be more challenging. We had a few different
birds that showed white flanks or white sides at various views, but all were
eventually determined to be Commons or Pacific.

Second, there are more loons there than you might see in the first 10
minutes or even two hours. Although all of our birds turned out to be other
than Arctic, I wouldn't refute reports based on what I saw because I didn't
see all of the loons and didn't get difinitive looks at all that I did see.
Bob and I were ready to leave around 10:30 but stayed another hour+
following additional birds in the distance. Four of us, including two
Questars, were becoming more convinced the longer we followed one until it
turned and showed the wrong mark. They move around; that was the case a few
years ago with the other Arctic Loon downstream.

Randy Hill
Othello

----- Original Message -----
From: "ccorder" <2cbird at charter.net>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>; "Inland NW Birders"
<inland-nw-birders at uidaho.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 2:36 a
Subject: Arctic Loon bye bye


> Saturday I also failed to relocate the Arctic Loon I reported Jan 1st at
> Wanapum.
> Although I've not changed my mind, I think others are correct in
questioning
> this sighting that lacked photos & was not seen again. Unfortunately this
> fact is bothering me too much so I'm signing off chat groups while my ego
> rebuilds. Maybe spring at our Cheney ranch/ preserve will get me going
> again.
>
> bye bye
> CraigCorder
> 2cbird at charter.net
>
>
>