ML126904471

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Very rare. Found last evening by Rob Keys. Basic plumage. First seen around 7:40AM from the e. central shore of Lincoln Lake along Silver Beach Dr., scoping distantly to the SW. The bird was sleeping in the s. central portion of the lake. It was boldly gray above and white on the underparts, including the *entire* waterline from chest to rear flanks, at rest. This did not change with angle or posture. The bird lifted its head for 20-30 seconds as we scoped it. The neck and head were uniformly thin and snake-like, and very pale compared to COLO, with a pale gray crown and nape and characteristic 'blank' look to the face and sides of neck. There were no dark markings in the neck that I could make out. The bill was very thin and held upward at about a 15-20 degree angle throughout our brief obsrevation of less than 1 minute. We decided to switch vantages to the SE corner of Lincoln Lake in order to get closer looks and try for pictures. We arrived there around 7:45AM and and were shocked we could not relocate the bird. After a couple minutes, I randomly glanced straight up, and noticed a whitish bird flapping up high, circling the lake, and was shocked to find that it was indeed the RTLO. So the only photos I have of it are in flight high up, straight above my head. After circling 2 times, the bird flew high and headed southward at 750AM, leaving southward. We left the area by 830.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 60D

Lens

EF300mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x

ISO

640

Focal length

420 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1000 sec

Dimensions

923 pixels x 666 pixels

Original file size

103.13 KB