Hi Tweets,

Regarding finding this critter on freshwater yesterday, does anyone know how
unusual a freshwater record would be for this species? I sent this report
to a couple folks already but have been too lazy to research prior records.
Thanks in advance.

Details:

Between approximately 12:50 pm and 1:10 pm, I found a chunky, block-headed,
all dark alcid resting on Lake Washington due west of the dock at Marsh Park
in Kirkland. Distance to bird was approximately 500 yards under mostly
cloudy skies with very little wind or wave action. Observed the bird
through a Questar at 64X, and at this distance, could make out a two-toned
bill with an orange/pale base and a dusky tip. There were no other birds
anywhere near for size comparison, but the bill was thicker in proportion to
the bird than my recollection of Common Murre and definitely thicker than
any murrelet or guillemot. Looked hard for any sign of pale feathering on
the head (and even a pale iris) and detected none. Breast was dark brown in
color whenever it turned toward me, and except for the undertail coverts,
was otherwise very dark all over. Typical Rhino shape - no neck, big head,
etc. The bill color and shape, the brown tone to the breast, and the lack
of any pale spot near the eye helped eliminate Cassin's Auklet to my
satisfaction. Bill was definitely smaller than any puffin I've seen, juv.
or otherwise. The bird rested on the lake for the duration - never diving,
never flapping its wings. It would turn its head on occasion, also turned
its body from time to time, but generally, it was making a slow northward
progress (paddling or wind drift?). Am quite familiar with this and similar
species and am confident of the ID.

Carl Haynie
Sammamish, WA