A mid-morning seawatch at Robert Moses SP, Suffolk County, Long Island produced zero tube-noses but was enlivened by a Pacific Loon passing west to east at 9:35 a.m.
This occurred within the context of a light but steady west to east flight of Common Loons. The Pacific Loon passed directly in front of four observers at relatively close range, and when first detected it was flying a short distance in front of a Common Loon, allowing direct comparison. It was obviously smaller than the Common Loon, with a noticeably smaller and less blocky head and a relatively smaller and slimmer bill (held closed throughout the observation). It was in breeding plumage, with a black throat, pale nape, and white dorsal markings arranged in two neat panels along the sides of the back--quite different from the more extensive white area on breeding-plumaged Common Loons. It also lacked the white collar marks that were conspicuous on breeding-plumaged Common Loons, even at significantly greater distances. It was distinguishable from Red-throated Loon most obviously by the presence of the white dorsal panels, but also by structure and via its generally darker head, with just the nape appearing paler than the blackish face and throat. In comparison with Arctic Loon, several much more subtle and uncertain distinctions were noted: its obvious small size; a dark horizontal band along the whole side of the body, just below the wings, which was probably thicker than expected in Arctic; and the absence of visible white markings on the sides of the neck. These are obviously just supporting characters, illustrating the absence of any positive reason to suspect the much less probable species. Shai Mitra Bay Shore ________________________________ Take a picture. Write a caption. Win a prize. Where’s Danny the Dolphin today?<http://www.csi.cuny.edu/wheresdanny/> -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
