ML22490781

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Tags

Field notes/sketch

Media notes

field notes made while watching the bird

Observation details

Seen quite well, in presence of both red-throateds and common loon. Have high confidence of ID though no photos. Observed about half way along beach approximately where the 4WD track meets the beach. First seen around 3pm and watched for about half an hour, during which it gradually moved off-shore. During this time dove little, but was constantly obscured by waves - when first seen, close enough (~150-200 m?) to observe good details, but after first 5-10 mins harder to see details clearly, though still appeared distinct from other species (darker than red-throat; smaller, slender-billed compared to common). Field notes as follows: - Approximately same size as red-throated, which seen immediately next to, perhaps marginally bigger. Not seen directly with common, but after watching it for a few minutes I scanned the ocean to look at a couple that were also within view (one at approx. same distance) to confirm my impressions of differences in size, shape, etc. - Bill medium weight, lacking heft and "chisel-like" appearance of common, but also straight with no hint of an upward turn. - Smoothly rounded head, no hints of the "bumps" that are characteristic of common. - Head, face, back and sides of neck, and back uniformly dark grey-black. No obvious contrast between neck and back color. Clearly darker than nearby red-throateds. No pale speckling or other marks on upperparts. Dark facial feathering on face extended down to below the eye, quite unlike red-throated. Straight line demarcating dark back of neck and white throat. No sign of pale "collar" cutting back across rear side of neck. - Throat, front of neck, and underparts white. No white obvious on flanks when swimming normally, but visible while preening. I was unsure as to whether there was a chin strap. During normally swimming I saw none, but a couple of times while the bird was preening I thought I saw one. These impressions were very brief and involved a preening bird getting bounced around by waves, though, so I'm not at all certain of this field mark.

Technical information

Model

iPhone 4S

Lens

iPhone 4S back camera 4.28mm f/2.4

ISO

80

Focal length

4.3 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/2.4

Shutter speed

1/120 sec

Dimensions

1632 pixels x 1224 pixels

Original file size

149.02 KB