Dennis,



You say you've never seen such a big flock of Pacific Loons as the flock in
Semiahmoo Bay. I estimated 300 to 400 there yesterday afternoon from the
Blaine fishing pier.



You must not have taken the ferry from Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria
very often. Active Pass, the channel between Galiano and Mayne Islands,
typically has flocks of 1000 to 2000 Pacific Loons for most of the winter,
and well into spring. It is a spectacular sight in April when they are all
in breeding plumage. Flocks of a similar size can be seen around Porlier
Pass (the north end of Galiano Island), and around Seymour Narrows and other
places in BC's northern Gulf Islands.



Pacific Loons are different in their winter ecology from most other loons,
which prefer bays and other shallow waters. Pacific Loons are highly
gregarious nearly all the time, and are mostly found in deep waters with
strong tidal currents-- conditions which bring lots of schooling fish close
to the surface. Active Pass is typical of locations preferred by Pacific
Loons, and usually has huge flocks of Brandt's Cormorants as well, and large
numbers of gulls and alcids.



Deception Pass in Washington is odd because it usually has large flocks of
Red-throated Loons, in a situation where one would expect big flocks of
Pacific Loons instead. I've never seen any other place which has the big
flocks of Red-throats which are normal at Deception Pass.



At Blaine, big flocks of Pacific Loons are unusual. I bird there at least
once a week, on average, and on 90% or more of my winter visits, there are
NO Pacific Loons. There must be something good out in Semiahmoo Bay right
now!



Wayne C. Weber

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net









From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis
Paulson
Sent: March-02-12 9:12 PM
To: Mechejmch
Cc: TWEETERS tweeters
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Fwd: [birdrepbc] Wings Over Water/Northwest Birding
Festival



Joe and tweeters,



I was on the pier at the end of Marine Drive in Blaine at midday today, and
there was a long, strung-out flock of hundreds of Pacific Loons right in
front of us. It waxed and waned and drifted back and forth, with birds
constantly taking off and landing and diving. Some were close enough to the
pier for wonderful photos. I've never seen such a big flock, and it was an
absolutely thrilling spectacle. In the midst of it there were small numbers
of Red-throated Loons constantly flying into Drayton Harbor and big Common
Loons fishing on all sides. A pair of Long-tailed Ducks fed right off the
pier, and of course many other birds were scattered all over the water. I
hope they are all there in two weeks!



Dennis