ML612058766

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Initially found by Paul Jantscher, Karl Bardon, and Luke Hollander on 12/7/23. Seen by many on 12/8/23. Re-found on 12/9/23 in the Lake Pepin waters off the Lake City Marina/Concourse. The bird was drifting along in the surf and easily visible from shore with a spotting scope. I was able to obtain a few photos and thought the bird was cooperating, but then the bird dove and disappeared for a long period of time, before reappearing much further out, at which time is was seen by many. The bird most closely resembled the "winter adult" plumage that is illustrated on page 73 of the National Geographic Birds of North America field guide dated 2008. As stated in the field guide, the birds crown is peaked at both the front and the back, giving a subtle “double-bump”, which is illustrated in at least one of the attached photos. The guide states that the birds’ bill is longer and the culmen is more straight in comparison to the common loon, giving the bill an uptilted look, which is enhanced by the birds’ head often being tilted back. While there was no common loon for direct comparison, these characteristics were present, as the top of the birds’ bill was very straight and the bird carried its head in an uptilted position. Also noted in the guide, the bill is duskier in the winter, which matches the bill of the bird that was seen. Unfortunately, the sky was overcast, so any possibility of detecting yellow was very difficult to obtain. The guide states that the birds’ face is pale in winter plumage and exhibits a distinct dark mark behind its eye—both features present, the bird had a very pale face and a dark mark that can be detected in at least one of the attached photos. The guide explains that birds’ eyes are smaller than a common loon, again there was no common loon in the immediate vicinity to compare to, though the birds’ eyes did feel small. The guide notes that in winter plumage the birds back and crown are paler and browner than the common, again, no bird for comparison; however, the overall look of the bird was very pale and at least one photo captures a brownish hue to the birds’ crown. Dunn, Jon; Alderfer, Jonathan. National Geographic Birds of North America. National Geographic Society, 2008.

Technical information

Model

SM-G973U

ISO

100

Focal length

4.3 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/2.4

Shutter speed

1/120 sec

Dimensions

4032 pixels x 2268 pixels

Original file size

1.44 MB