Today at Kerr Reservoir in Mecklenberg County, I found a PACIFIC LOON.
The bird was located at around 1:00 PM at the day use Palmer Point
Recreational Area at the end of Palmer Point Road which is off of Route
4 east of the dam. The bird was originally left of the boat ramp
towards the cove area and it was in the company of 2 Common Loons. I
got excellent looks at the bird in comparison to the Common Loons which
were often in the same scope field as the Pacific Loon. The size
difference was obvious. All the other field marks were evident
including the dark cap that extends over the eye and the straight black
and white border of the neck. The bill was slim and straight and the
dark flanks had no white extending upwards on the sides of the rump.
When close enough, the bird had a very obvious "chinstrap". When last
seen, it was travelling southwest with a Common Loon until it was out of
sight. Much effort was spent the rest of the day looking for it again
from different vantage points on the reservoir although my knowledge of
the area is limited. I never refound the bird. I have had experience
with this bird before. Last winter, when I was living in coastal New
Jersey, we had a Pacific Loon off of the northern coast not too far from
where I lived. The looks I got today were far superior to those I got
last year. Hopefully, some other birders in the area will successfully
relocate this bird in the near future. Other birds of note today
included Horned Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe, Bald Eagle, Red-headed
Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch and the other common winter woodland
birds. Good birding.
Adam D'Onofrio
Keysville
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