MA - YELLOW-BILLED LOON!

Yesterday we experienced an extra-ordinary day on Outer Cape Cod. Scott Surner, Brian Kane and I left the Pioneer Valley early. Our goal was to see the Yellow-billed Loon found at Race Point, Provincetown by Steve Arena about a week prior. We found the subject bird without too much trouble and then settled down to enjoy some of the best loon viewing that we've ever seen in North America. Conservative estimates of 150-200 Red-throated, 60-70 Common and 3 Pacific Loons and the Yellow-billed made for an unprecedented four loon day......not too shabby and well worth the three-mile round trip trudging through the soft sand of Race Point beach.

The spectacle was not taken for granted, not by any any means. Loon watching can be difficult at times with individuals tending to disappear for extended periods, especially when diving frequently. Race Point beach was all the more impressive as the rarities (Yellow-billed and Pacific Loons) remained on view for extended periods providing a living 'loon workshop' for anyone who might be interested in improving their knowledge of this fantastic group of birds in basic plumage.


Although it was a tough day out from Western Massachusetts, all three of us agreed that it was one of the best field experiences that we'd had in the state in recent years. On the walk back to the parking lot, I couldn't help but think about how fortunate Massachusetts is to be blessed with some remarkably good birders - 'chapeau' to Steve Arena for his excellent find and for alerting us to the excellent loon viewing currently available at Race Point.

Yellow-billed Loon - juvenile/first-winter, with Common Loon, Race Point, Provincetown, MA. March 6th, 2016.

Pacific Loon - with Common Loon n foreground, Race Point, Provincetown, MA. March 6th, 2016.

Red-throated Loon - Race Point, Provincetown, MA. March 6th, 2016.
One of several slightly tricky individuals potentially confusable with Pacific Loon.

Red-throated Loon (left)- Race Point, Provincetown, MA. March 6th, 2016.  
Same bird as above with Pacific Loon to the right.

AK - Yellow-billed Loons - 06/22

 

 

 Yellow-billed Loons - Barrow, Alaska, June 22nd, 2012. Another highlight from the Birdfinders tour of Alaska. Things were looking gloomy for seeing this charismatic species until our last morning in Barrow when we were fortunate to find about five birds close to town. Panasonic Lumix FZ40. JPS.

AZ - YELLOW-BILLED LOON - 01/19

Yellow-billed Loon - first-winter, Colorado River near Parker, La Paz Co., AZ. January 19th, 2011. Images taken using Canon Powershot A495 handheld through Swarovski HD telescope.

This bird was frequenting both sides of the AZ/CA state line on the Colorado River just north of Parker and was originally found by David Vander Plyum et al on January 15th. Susannah and I failed to find it on January 16th en route to the Salton Sea, but I tried again on January 19th and eventually found the bird off Riverside Drive about 3 miles north of the Blue Water Casino.

For my money, the most exciting of the loons with a unique jizz and well worth the drive (about 3 hours from Phoenix). Remarkably, this was my third Yellow-billed Loon in Arizona, the other two also coming from the Colorado River - one at Havasu City in Feb 2001 and one on Lake Havasu in Feb 2008.

JPS

Four Loon Day - in Arizona! 03/09

Made the long drive out to Lake Havasu in Western Arizona from Phoenix with Pierre Deviche and Eyal Shochat. We spent much of the day scouting various view points (mostly in the Havasu City area) for a previously reported Yellow-billed Loon present since late January. The day was above and beyond expectation. Not only did we eventually locate the Yellow-billed Loon (south of Pittsburg Point) but also saw Common, Pacific and Red-throated Loons during the course of the day.

We also tallied some five species of grebe (including Clark's and Horned), plus Redhead, Canvasbacks, Ross's Goose, California Gulls and 4 Greater Scaup just below Parker Dam.

Yellow-billed Loon - upper three shots. Very distant, seen from Arizona but in California waters when these shots were taken. Found late in the day, around 5:30 pm, when we'd just about set sail for home.

Pacific Loon - winter adult, close to shore at Site Six.

Red-throated Loon - distant record shot taken from Site Six. This bird is in California waters with the CA shore in the background.

Common Loon - this worn and rather pale-billed Common Loon was a point of discussion in the middle of the day. Eventually gave itself up and revealed a dark culman and bill tip. A further eight or so Common Loons were seen during the day.


An essential online reference for birding this area has been written by Mark Stevenson -
Birding Arizona's West Coast.