Donald & VA Birders,
An immature Common Loon might not be as out-of-season and out-of-range
at this time of year as you think! Several summers ago, when my late
husband and I went to Isle Royale National Park, a 6-hour boat ride in Lake
Superior from Houghton, on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we had a variety
of lectures and other programs to keep us occupied on the trip. I
especially remember a lecture by a couple who were doing research on Common
Loons in the area. Among the things we learned was that the loons do not
return to their breeding grounds until they are adults and ready to breed,
which I think is at least 2 or 3 years. We were also told that the winter
range of Common Loons from the U. P. area includes the Mid-Atlantic region.
You might also be interested to know that our best view of Common Loons on
the trip was at Seney NWR, which is located on the U. P. east of Marquette;
we saw adults and chicks there, but no immature loons.
Also, we have occasionally seen Common Loons in non-breeding plumage on our
Northern Virginia Bird Club's Spring Chincoteague trips.
Good birding,
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Donald Sweig" <skybirds.d@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2011 5:25 PM
To: <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Va-bird] Possible Common Loon above Great Falls on Potomac
A friend and I walked up-river from Great Falls NP to Riverbend park and
back about 9:30 this morning. About half-way back we noticed a very
different bird in the river, in the channel above the dam, between the
Virginia shore and Conn Island. It appeared to be a juvenile plumage
Common Loon. We both had extended 8x binocular looks at the bird several
times from about 75- yards away. The bird was actively preening. It would
be way out-of-season and out-of-range, but it did appear to be a Common
Loon. If anyone else finds or sees this bird, please post your observation
to Va-bird.
--
Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.
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