[wisb] Re: PACIFIC LOON in Madison (Dane Co.)

From: Peter Fissel <pfissel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Wisconsin Birding Network <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:06:53 -0500
As Tom Prestby posted for me (thanks, Tom - sorry you weren't in town!), I 
found a classic winter-plumaged Pacific Loon on Lake Monona in Madison after 
work today.  It was pure luck that I happened to have my scope along - Peter 
Gorman, Jim Otto and I had given a staff development lunchtime brownbag program 
on birding at our library, so I decided to bring the full gamut of gear along - 
good thing!   
 
I parked at the Brittingham Boat House on North Shore Dr., just off John Nolen 
Dr., and after a quick look at the triangular "railroad bay" there, I crossed 
John Nolen Dr. and set up at the concrete dock ramp near the intersection of 
North Shore and Nolen.  There were a few Common Loons close in, so I began 
counting those and then scanned farther out, looking southeast towards the city 
of Monona.  The sixth or seventh loon I looked at was immediately apparent as 
NOT a Common Loon - solid dark gray back, dark gray cap on a rounded head, 
small, light-colored bill, clean line of demarcation between the white foreneck 
and dark hindneck, white going up the lower half of the face, dark top half 
with the dark part going down to the bottom of the eye, head nearly always held 
level when it wasn't preening.  The ID was clinched when it reared up slightly 
and raised its head while facing me - a narrow, complete dark "chinstrap" was 
quite obvious.  While the bird was quite distant (easily 3/4 of a mile out,) 
viewing conditions were excellent with very little chop on the water and good 
light from behind me.  I quickly tried to take a photo through the scope with 
my iPod Touch, but what I read about them having a lousy camera proved to be 
true (especially with the scope at 50x). 
 
I made a few calls (difficult with the rush hour traffic noise at one of the 
busier intersections in downtown Madison.)  I got hold of John Romano and Pat 
Ready, both of whom said they were on their way.  Tom Prestby unfortunately was 
out of town, but kindly posted the bird for me.  I tried a couple of other 
people without success, so went back to my scope - no loon there.  I scanned 
and scanned, but couldn't refind it by the time John got there.  We kept 
scanning, finding at least 20 Common Loons, but could not find the Pacific.  
Pat got there and did spot a Forster's Tern among all the Bonaparte's Gulls.  
After Pat and John left, I relocated to the Olin Park boat launch to see if I 
could spot it again.  After scanning from shore, I moved out onto one of the 
docks to scan, and all of a sudden came upon a sleeping loon that looked 
suspicious.  As soon as it lifted its head, I realized it was the Pacific.  I 
watched it for several more minutes as it lazed around (I never did see it 
diving.)   When it tucked its head back to go to sleep again, I moved back onto 
solid land (the dock was a bit rolly in the light chop,) but could not relocate 
it again.  I also tried from Esther Beach off Waunona Way just north of the 
Beltline, but I believe the loon was farther east.  It might be a good spot to 
check from tomorrow morning, though, at least once the sun gets up a bit. (Take 
Fisher Rd. off Broadway at the PDQ across from South Towne Mall - Fisher runs 
into Waunona Way, and Esther Beach is just a little ways.  There is a small 
parking lot.  Another good spot to try tomorrow morning would be from Frost 
Woods Beach off Winnequah Dr. in Monona.  Looking at a map, I believe the 
Pacific Loon was in the general area of Squaw Bay, at the southeast corner of 
Lake Monona.
 
I have some hope this bird might stick for a little while - the last one we had 
on Lake Monona a few years ago did.  I managed to refind that one a day or two 
after it first was spotted. 
 
And yes, Ryan, I will submit documentation! 
 
Peter Fissel
Madison, Dane Co. 
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[wisb] Re: PACIFIC LOON in Madison (Dane Co.)

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