On my way home from work yesterday (Toppenish), I thought I spied a loon on one of the ponds along I-82. There is a series of three ponds on the east side of the interstate around the Wapato Exit, it was on the middle pond. Of course, I viewed it at 70 mph, so I dismissed it as most likely being a cormorant. However, today, while coming back from the Tri-Cities, I looked at the middle lake/pond again and spotted the loon and definitely saw the loon silhouette. The bird had a dark body and a noticeably gray head and neck. Not sure of the species as I couldn't stop, but I would think any loon here at this time of year would be unusual. Maybe someone local will read this note and verify my sighting this weekend and nail the bird to species. I may try to go by there again tomorrow myself, this time with binocs.

Jeff Kozma
Yakima, WA