| Common Name | Pacific loon |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gavia pacifica |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 12/15/2024 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Sue Wetmore |
| Mailing Address | 14 Maple St 14 Maple St. Brandon, Vermont 05733 United States Map It |
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| Date Completed | 12/16/2024 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | CJ Frankiewicz |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Place Name | Tri-Town/ Oven Bay |
| Township | Addison |
| County | Addison |
| Time of Day | 12:30 PM |
| Length of Time Observed | 20 |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | Half mile |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | Same half mile |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Weather was cold, water was flat due to no wind. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Vortex Razor HD 60x85 scope |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Have seen this species several times in the same general area. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Large flocks of snow and Canada geese, horned grebes, black & mallards, common golden |
| Behaviors Observed | Loon first spotted swimming in a southerly direction. Spent some time preening. Then I watched it diving. |
| Description of Vocalizations | None |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | Since this loon didn’t look like a COLO I spent some time observing it as it swam , preened and dove. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Medium sized with typical loon shape. |
| Head | Crown dark black extending down over the eye. White was below the eye, throat was white with black nape. There was a definite sharp divide between neck and and nape. |
| Feet & Bill | Bill moderately sized, held horizontally with a light lower mandible. |
| Upper Back | Dark black |
| Lower Back & Rump | Dark black |
| Wings | When the bird flapped its wings the were dark. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Breast and flanks white. |
| Tail | Upper tail dark |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Common loon as it is a more robust bird with a heavier bill. |
| Other Notes & Comments | Not determined |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Immediately After |
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