FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Pacific Loon calling at Cape Charles

[Phoebetria@xxxxxxx]

The most astonishing thing yesterday evening (16 March): as Steve Hairfield 
and I were photographing the sunset at Cape Charles Beach (Bay Avenue), a 
Pacific Loon belted out its distinctive call twice, about 10 minutes apart, 
from out in the Bay.  (It's a call I have not heard in the East before, 
though it's very familiar from many trips to northern Manitoba; we hear 
Common Loons calling quite a bit here, beginning about this time of year.)  
Scanning out with binoculars sunward, I could see that there were plenty of 
loons, mostly Common and few Red-throated, with a few candidates for a 
Pacific-sized (and -shaped) bird, but the distance and glare prohibited any 
identification.  A search this morning has yet to turn the bird up, but the 
weather has changed from hot, dead calm, and sunny to cold, overcast, and 
quite windy.  The bird could easily still be around.  There was a substantial 
flight *into* the Bay of Red-throated Loons yesterday morning.

The pair of Harlequin Ducks were still around at the CBBT yesterday (NW side, 
Island 4; along with dozens of Song Sparrows and Eastern Phoebes and 2 
courting oystercatchers: this is the only species known to have bred on the 
CBBT), as was the Eurasian Collared-Dove, calling through midday at 600 x 645 
junction east of Kiptopeke.  Still plenty of Pine Siskins around at the 
feeders here.  

Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA 
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