Subject: [Tweeters] A loon breakfast at Alki (Seattle)
Date: Apr 17 11:39:45 2010
From: Gary Smith - gsmith at smithandstark.com


Tweeters,



This morning I had seen a Common Loon diving near the Alki Lighthouse,
decked out in its full breeding finery. Later I noticed some commotion on
the water and through the scope, realized the loon had captured a Penpoint
Gunnel, bright lime green, about 12 inches long. (A gunnel is an eel-like
fish that lives on the bottom, often hides under rocks during daylight, and
has a practice that may make it more vulnerable to predation at this time of
year - it stands guard over its eggs.)



As with cormorants and herons and such, when the prey is first captured it
is usually held amidships and a certain amount of drama ensues. The loon
was gripping the gunnel in the middle in just that way, but of course, if
you've ever discovered one of these fish under a rock at low tide, you know
a gunnel is nothing if not a great wriggler. So they struggled. Whenever
the loon let loose to get a better grip, the gunnel would spring free and
make a break for the bottom. The loon would push off so aggressively, using
extraordinarily powerful thrusts of its feet, it would leave a hole in the
surface the size of garbage can lid. Each time the loon would resurface
quickly with the gunnel, whereupon the positioning, wriggling, escaping, and
recapturing routine would recommence. Eventually, the loon made a
successful grab for the gunnel's head, threw its own head back like a
contestant in an oyster-slurping contest, and down went breakfast. Sort of
like green eggs and ham, only this breakfast had to be still wriggling like
mad when it landed in the loon's stomach.



Gary T. Smith

Alki Point (West Seattle)