A birding companion and I 'rescued' two RTLOs recently that were hauled out on local beaches after getting tangled in 1) remnants of a gill net and 2) a piece of gear from a crab pot.
We were successful in capturing the birds long enough to check for injuries and free them from their respective entanglements. We documented both encounters with photos.

We speculated that these birds were somewhat exhausted from hauling around this gear, which in both cases had wrapped around their bodies and legs. We have also considered that it might have been the same loon on both occasions, two days apart; one on the north side of Bellingham Bay and the other two miles away on south B'ham Bay.

Upon release, they both appeared to be thankful, or as thankful as a loon might be. Where's Gary Larson when we need him?

Joe Meche
Bellingham




-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Paulson <dennispaulson at comcast.net>
To: Gary Bletsch <garybletsch at yahoo.com>
Cc: tweeters tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sun, Feb 12, 2012 3:27 pm
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] RT Loon on beach


Gary,
When I was spending a lot of time at Grays Harbor, I frequently saw Red-throated
oons hauled up on the beach at the protected game range, especially during the
ate summer when they were molting. I felt it was normal behavior for them. When
pproached, they would hop into the water with strong simultaneous kicks of
heir legs and swim off. I speculated that when they were molting and might have
ad the insulating warmth of their feather coat slightly compromised, they could
arm up on the beach. Pure speculation with no particular evidence, and if you
ee them in midwinter, they're probably not molting.
Dennis

n Feb 12, 2012, at 2:53 PM, Gary Bletsch wrote:
> Dear Tweeters,

Yesterday (11 February 2012) I saw something I'd seen only once before, about
0 years ago: a Red-throated Loon on a beach.

Last time I saw this was at Point Reyes, CA in September of 1988. On that
ccasion, my wife and I watched a Red-throated Loon swim onto a sandy beach,
tay there a few minutes, then swim back into the water as we approached.

Yesterday, shortly before sundown, I noticed a Red-throated Loon hauled up on
sandy bar at Game Range on Fir Island. My vantage point was at the very end of
he River End Trail; the bird appeared to be alert, resting twenty or thirty
eters or so from a small flock of Mallards that were likewise loafing on the
ar. This was across the channel from me. The bird was still there when I left.

Other fun birds yesterday included several Northern Saw-whet Owls at Harry
sborne State Forest north of Hamilton, and at least one at Rockport State Park
owling field trip with Pilchuck Audubon).

At Pomona Grange Park, a pair of Hutton's Vireos gave great looks, the male
inging and calling quite a bit.

Yours truly,

Gary Bletsch

Yesterday

Yesterday evening, I was

Gary Bletsch Near Lyman, Washington (Skagit County), USA garybletsch at yahoo.com
Nun," sagte ich, "wenn ich ein Taugenichts bin, so ist's gut, so will ich in
ie Welt gehen, und mein Glueck machen." Und eigentlich war mir das recht lieb,
enn es war mir kurz vorher selber eingefallen, auf Reisen zu gehen, da ich die
oldammer, welche im Herbst und Winter immer betruebt an unserm Fenster sang:
Bauer, miet' mich, Bauer, miet' mich!" nun in der schoenen Fruehlingszeit
ieder ganz stolz und lustig vom Baume rufen hoerte: "Bauer, behalt' deinen
ienst!"
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-----
ennis Paulson
724 NE 98 St.
eattle, WA 98115
06-528-1382
ennispaulson at comcast.net

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