[TN-Bird] HP CBC / probable Pacific Loon
- From: Chris Sloan <chris.sloan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: TN-Bird Listserv <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:17:24 -0600
Today, 15 observers in five field parties covered the Hickory-Priest
CBC, covering Nashville's two TVA lakes as well as Shelby Bottoms and
other areas of Davidson and Sumner Counties. The count total was one of
the highest ever - 92 species, not including the loon discussed below.
Highlights included:
2 White-winged Scoters at Percy Priest Lake
1 Gray Catbird at Shelby Bottoms
1 f. Greater Scaup at Old Hickory Lake
1 Merlin at the usual location at Anderson Recreation Area on Percy
Priest Lake
1 Northern Pintail (fairly unusual for this count)
Observers also had exceptionally high counts American Robin and
Bonaparte's Gull, among others. I was disappointed that no Pine Siskins
were reported.
Our group had a loon on Old Hickory Lake that I certain (at least as
certain as can be under the circumstances) was a Pacific Loon. I first
found it around 3:30 from Loch 3 looking out towards Snow Bunting
Peninsula, and my immediate reaction was that it was a Pacific and I
told the group to get on the bird. It was extremely distant, but in
comparison to two nearby Common Loons, it was very obviously much
smaller with a shorter, finer bill, and more smoothly rounded forehead,
and it sat a little lower in the water. Plumage details were difficult
to make out due to the extreme distance and the oblique angle of the sun
(about 30 degrees left relative to our view of the bird, leaving a heavy
glare). Several times the bird sat up in the water, flapped, and
stretched its neck. I am fairly sure that, on a few of those occasions,
I could discern the evenly demarcated line of contrast on the side of
the neck; certainly, I never saw anything that suggested the typical
jagged pattern of a Common Loon.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm quite certain this was a Pacific Loon, but
given the distance and less-than-ideal viewing conditions, I am not
including it in the count totals other than as "loon sp." and am
recording it in my own records as "probable." If anyone else is able to
locate this bird and confirm the ID one way or the other, please let me
know. If it remains in the same area, it should be visible from Loch 3,
and also possibly from Snow Bunting Peninsula.
regards,
Chris Sloan
Nashville, TN
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