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PACIFIC LOON
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: PACIFIC LOON
- From: "Brad Carlson" <bradcarlson1@hotmail.com>
- Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2003 17:31:53 -0400
- Delivered-to: pardo@metalab.unc.edu
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
I just returned home after spending the better part of today in search of
the previously reported Pacific Loon on the Outerbanks. I started scanning
the ocean at 9:00am at the Quality Inn in Nags Head. I proceeded south
checking about every 1/4 or 1/2 mile all the way to the Pea Island visitor's
center. During that entire duration, the only loon I saw, was a single
Common Loon. The only bird of real interest was a 3rd year LESSER
BLACK-BACKED GULL just south of Jenette's Pier in Nags Head. I also had
three Whimbrels at that location.
Dissapointed after four hours of looking, I then headed back north to try
again in the opposite direction. I skipped most of the beach and started
at the Outerbanks Pier just north of the Bodie Island Lighthouse. The
LESSER-BLACK-BACKED GULL had moved down the beach, and was now at this
location. I then spotted a POMARINE JAEGER flying in from off shore and
then it sat on the water just south of me. I then spotted a loon far to the
south at my visual limit. I jumped back in the car and headed south to a
public beach access at East Juncos Street (approximately milepost 19) off of
South Old Oregon Inlet Road. When I arrived, the bird was close to shore.
I am pleased to report that the loon was indeed the PACIFIC LOON! The loon
stayed just beyond the people swimming. It was an immature with a clean
neck pattern, dark around the eye, straight bill (smaller than Common). The
loon did not have a chin strap.
When I left after about 20 minutes, the bird was slowly swimming south.
This was sweet success after having failed at previous attempts at Figure
Eight Island and Wilmington in the "appropriate" time of year.
-Brad Carlson
Winterville, NC
BradCarlson1@hotmail.com
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