ML107249341

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Video still

Observation details

Accepted by local bird records committee. Subsequently seen by others. Video obtained by Sal Salerno My notes: Sal and I were scoping ducks from the bridge on 28 Mile Road, overlooking the portion of Woodward Reservoir that is protected and off-limits for hunting and boating. We were looking to the west, and turned to return to our cars. I immediately saw a loon to the east of the road and recognized that it was not a Common Loon because of the bird’s smaller bill. The bird was very close; I would estimate no more than 25 meters from the road. Though we both had binoculars and scopes and used them later, the field marks of the loon were clear to the naked eye. As we observed the bird, I rapidly eliminated Red-throated Loon from consideration as the bill was straight, and the underside of the neck was a very clean white and clearly demarcated from the dorsal part of the neck and top of the head. Other field marks noted by us were the smaller, finer neck and head compared to the blockier Common Loon. We also noted a small dark line going around the neck at the base of the jaw, at the bend of the neck (field guides call this a chin-strap or necklace). There were also three thin dark lateral stripes on either side of the chest that may be remnants of breeding plumage. These were especially evident when the bird turned to face us while preening in the water. Otherwise, the bird has a solid dark back and top of the head. We observed the bird for a while, then consulted field guides. The chin strap mark eliminates Arctic Loon, so we looked at that again, and it was evident from both frontal and lateral views. As we observed the bird, it drifted farther away and was perhaps 150 meters from us at its farthest point.

Technical information

Dimensions

604 pixels x 433 pixels

Original file size

26.28 KB