ML58578751
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
A flyover heading NW (and appeared to fly nearly over my neighborhood). Rather shocked to look up and see this large waterbird coming towards me. Soon after spotting it I realized it was odd and knew I'd need to get some photos. Therefore, I really didn't study it much in the field, and don't recall any details such as flight style. Based on the photos it is clearly a loon with the trailing feet and pointed wings. Judging the bill has been a bit confusing, and it appears somewhat thin in the photos, but also seems too long for a Red-throated. The neck pattern doesn't seem to fit Pacific, either. After seeking input for experts who have extensive experience with loons in flight, Common Loon seems to be the consensus based off large feet, a larger blocky head, and what is probably a jagged neck pattern (although molt could be causing some confusion). New patch bird. #166 for me.
Technical information
- Model
- Canon EOS 7D
- Lens
- EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM
- ISO
- 400
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire, auto
- f-stop
- f/6.3
- Shutter speed
- 1/640 sec
- Dimensions
- 412 pixels x 272 pixels
- Original file size
- 33.41 KB