On Sat., Dec 30, Jane Hadley and I, while doing the Goldendale CBC, found an
albino loon just below the John Day Dam on the Columbia River. The head was
very smoothly rounded and the bill was thinner than a Common. The forehead
seemed a little too steep to be Red-throated, and at no time did the bird
tilt its bill above horizontal. Therefore I believe it's a Pacific Loon.

We spotted the bird very close to the Washington shore in what I believe is
the entrance to the lock. We observed it swimming and diving close to shore
for perhaps 10 minutes and then it swam toward the middle of the river,
still close to the dam, and we left to resume the count. It was about 11:30
am.

The bird appeared pure white through binos but it has a dark eye. The bill
is light gray. Through the scope there appeared to be tinges of very light
gray in some feathers on the back. It is a strikingly beautiful bird.

Randy Robinson
Seattle, WA
rwr.personal AT gmail.com