IBRC 57-B-11 - B

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Red-throated Loon
HOW MANY: 1

REPORTER: Jonathan Isacoff 4309 South Greystone Lane Spokane, WA 99223
REPORTER EMAIL: isacoff@gonzaga.edu
OTHER OBSERVERS: Bird first documented on November 8 by Shirley Sturts, Janet Callen, Roland Craft. Observed by Gina Sheridan and myself independently the same day.

DATE REPORT PREPARED: November 16, 2011
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: November 8, 2011

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: Cougar Bay Beach, Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.
HABITAT: Coeur D'Alene Lake.
CONDITIONS: We observed the bird at first at close range near shore, 25-35 away, for about 2 minutes. We re-located the bird periodically, perhaps 5-6 times, while scanning for reported White-winged Scoters for about an hour. Temperature was approximately 40 degrees with light wind gusts up to 5 MPH. Partly Sunny with sun in the South. Bird was to the Northeast of us, so mostly in good light. Optics: Nikon Monarch X 8.5x45 binoculars and Leica 60mm spotting scope.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: Yes, another day after the observation
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, another day after the observation
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: Sibley's Guide, North American edition.

DESCRIPTION: This is a small loon, approximately size of Common Merganser with long, sharp pointed bill, thicker than that of a Grebe but substantially thinner than that of a Common Loon. Head was notably not rounded, as would be expected on a Pacific Loon and lacked bulk and flattened look of Common Loon. Bird had dark grayish-black back with mottled dark gray neck lacking sharp dark/light contrast. Bird lacked checkered pattern on back.
BEHAVIOR: Bird was at first swimming away from shore. Later bird was actively feeding. Bird was at first solitary and later near Buffleheads and various Grebe sp., but not associating with them.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? As reported on INWB by Gina Sheridan and in my eBird notes, we at first assumed this bird to be one of at least two known Pacific Loons on Coeur D'Alene Lake at the time. I noted to Gina the lack of a rounded head while observing the bird, inquiring about a possible Common Loon. We agreed that the body and bill size were far too small for Common Loon, so reverted back to Pacific Loon. However, when we read Shirley Sturts', Garret MacDonald's, and Doug Ward's reports, we both -indendently - changed our ID to Red-throated, as the bird we observed matched their descriptions. The "clincher" for me was the lack of of rounded head, which was noted and discussed in the field while observing the bird, and the lack of the expected clean dark/light contrast on the neck that a Pacific Loon should have but that this bird did not. I also returned to Blue Creek Bay on November 10 to observe the Pacific Loon there and relocated two Pacific Loons on Wolf Lodge Bay (photogaphed) on November 15, which also "clinched" the view that the Cougar Bay Loon was not a Pacific Loon.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? Common Loon ruled out by body and bill size. As mentioned, this bird was approximately Merganser-sized and far too small for even a very small Common Loon. Pacific Loon ruled out by the lack of rounded-head, lack of clean dark/light contrast on neck, and lack of checkered pattern on back.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I have observed approximately 50-100 Red-throated Loons in various locations over the past 10 years, including Sandy Hook, NJ, Barnegat Light, NJ, Ocean Shores, WA, Port Townsend, WA, and various locations around the Puget Sound. I've seen a similar number of Pacific Loons in WA (but not NJ).
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I've been birding off and on for 30 years (almost precisely since my first checklist). I am not an expert birder. I have basic familiarity with most expected birds in the locations I've lived (NY, NJ, PA, and WA). I suppose I'm beyond abject beginner as I compile for the WA Year List Project and am a "contributing photographer" for Washington Ornithological Society.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: None