ML511650461

Observation details

**Uncommon but expected in migration. Surprising for me since I haven’t seen one all fall. FOS. Intriguingly, I have never seen a COLO from any waterfront park in Hastings (though I have seen them from my house over the Hudson), but I have had five records over land (four from Hillside, one from here). I caught this bird out of the corner of my eye as it passed very high up heading SE. Even bare eyes I knew this was a loon, so I dropped my phone and went for the ID immediately. It almost disappeared into the sun before I got binocs and a camera on it, but thankfully I got to ID it in time. Basic plumage COLO, differentiated in flight from RTLO by it’s much larger bill. Thin long neck, gray and white plumage, trailing feet. Photos to come