| Common Name | Common Loon |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gavia immer |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 02/28/2028 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Karen Denavit |
| Mailing Address | 2878 Lake Street Addison, VT 05491 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 08/14/2024 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | N/A |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44.1039 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -73.3885 |
| Place Name | 2878 Lake Street |
| Township | Addison |
| County | Addison |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 06:49 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 1 minute or so |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 500 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 200 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Do not remember. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | 10x42 Brunton Echo 1042 binoculars |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Commons loons are seen and heard in this area year round, but usually spring through autumn. However, they can be seen in the winter with what I describe as wearing their winter plumage, but what Cornell Lab of Ornithology describes as non-breeding/juvenile. I have also observed Common Loons on Attean Lake in Jackman, Maine so do have previous knowledge of the physical shape of a loon as well as its vocalizations. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Water surface of Lake Champlain. The lake did not ice over during Winter 2024. |
| Behaviors Observed | Paddling/swimming on and diving beneath the water surface. |
| Description of Vocalizations | Eerie tremolo calls. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | I did not make any notes for this particular observation, but I suspect that I saw a waterbird on Lake Champlain as I was walking indoors past my glass French doors and grabbed my binoculars to view it before I entered it into my eBird account as an incidental. Note: I have seen single Common Loons during past winters. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Smaller than a goose and larger than a crow. |
| Head | Gray-colored head and white throat. |
| Feet & Bill | Did not see feet, but the bill was dagger-like. |
| Upper Back | Gray. |
| Lower Back & Rump | Gray lower back. Did not see rump. |
| Wings | Gray-colored. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Breast was white. Did not see belly, flanks, or under tail coverts. |
| Tail | Did not see tail. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Double-crested Cormorant. Profile can be deceiving if it is in the middle of Lake Champlain, but can be positively identified by using binoculars. |
| Other Notes & Comments | No. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Written from Memory |
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