ML57066731

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Location: Northwest of Riddle Point County Park boat ramp, west end of Lake Lemon, Monroe County, IN The Sighting: Our team was scoping the lake for waterbirds during the Monroe County Birdathon. Description: Clearly a loon, large and long-bodied, riding low in the water and diving occasionally. No other loons or ducks nearby for size comparison, unfortunately. However, viewing conditions were very good despite the distance. The gray head and hindneck positively glowed (especially when the sun would come out from behind the clouds) and was the first thing I noticed. The gray extended from all along the top of the head all the way down the neck to where it met the back. The front of the throat appeared dark. Occasionally I could see long white stripes down the sides of the neck but this was only visible during close study – it was not super obvious. The breast was white. The upperparts were black with thick white patches. I never once saw any white on the flanks while the bird sat in the water. The bill was small – much smaller than common loon – and consistently held horizontally. Distance: roughly 200 meters Habitat: a large inland freshwater reservoir Behavior: Mostly swimming above the water, occasionally diving. Solitary. Not much boat traffic this Saturday since it was cold (50-55 degrees) and windy (15 mph) with rain in the morning. Voice: not heard Elimination of similar species: No other waterbirds nearby for comparison, although some DCCO were in the area. It was clearly a loon based on size, shape, and behavior. Overall it appeared slightly smaller than common loon. The bill was much smaller than COLO, and the head shape was round unlike COLO and ARLO. The grey on the head and hindneck also sets it far apart from common loon. The bill was small, and held horizontally, which helps distinguish it from RTLO and ARLO. The upperparts had large white patches, also quite different from RTLO. The flanks were always black with white never showing during in the time we watched it, during which it was mostly relaxed swimming above the water, and diving occasionally. For what it’s worth, PALO is also more expected than ARLO in IN. Others observers: Cathy Meyer, Gary Langell, Jeff Kiefer viewed the bird with me. A short while later another birdathon team and some ball state students viewed it Did other observers agree with the identification: yes Optics: Vortex Viper 8x42, Kowa scope 20-60x Previous experience with this and similar species: Remarkably, I saw a pacific loon at this exact location during a Monroe County Birdathon in 2010 (but that bird was in basic).

Technical information

Model

iPhone 5c

Lens

iPhone 5c back camera 4.12mm f/2.4

ISO

50

Focal length

4.1 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/2.4

Shutter speed

1/382 sec

Dimensions

3264 pixels x 2448 pixels

Original file size

937.41 KB