ML646234080

观察细节

After scoping for 30-40 minutes this pair of loons seemed to come out of nowhere. I didn't immediately notice much size difference between the two and presumed two COLO, but after closer inspection the neck pattern and bill size of one of the loons immediately struck me for Pacific! When I first spotted them they were only a few hundred yards away to the NE, which viewing through a scope provided a near immediate confirmation of ID. This pair slowly drifted South diving occasionally but not so frequently that it would make relocating them difficult (as sometimes is the case). Each dive would bring them further south that I worried they'd eventually drift out of sight, but they stopped just south of the nearby sandbar point before moving slowly back North and East. This entire time they were clearly only in MN waters and only right before dark was I confident that they had finally moved so far East (no longer identifiable as they drifted away) to be in WI waters. While the size difference wasn't immediately apparent, after watching these two loons side by side it became obvious that this bird was 70-80% of the size and generally more petite and curvy in nature. The bill was much shorter and thinner than that of the COLO. The neck pattern was cleanly contrasted lacking the collar of a COLO. Chinstrap was visible. 6th Washington County record, although only 5th confirmed record (Nov 2024 record unconfirmed despite many viewers). First photographed record for the county. Many photos/videos.

额外物种

• Common Loon Gavia immer