Re: [SBB] Common Loon - Almaden Lake

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An observation about the Common Loon I meant share in my earlier posting.

While it was resting quietly  just before noon, I could see that the tail feathers appeared to be absent or nearly so.  I could see its upper legs above the water line, giving it the appearance that the legs came from its back. I aggree with Peggy that it appears to be a juvenile or 1st. summer.

--
Karl Fowler 
San Jose, CA

-------------- Original message -------------- 

> I went to Almaden Lake this morning about 10:15 and found the Common Loon. It 
> spent considerable time at the surface. I was joined by Evon (sp?) Miko who was 
> able to watch it between dives. When I left at 12:00 noon, it was resting 
> quietly on the lake south of the island. How common is the COLO at Almaden 
> Lake? 
> 
> Other interesting birds observed were a Western Kingbirds, Western Tanager (a 
> single female), several Hooded Orioles, (including a brilliantly colored male 
> with its distinctive yellow head and black throat), two Caspian Terns, a female 
> Common Merganser with a dozen young trailing behind and about five Green Herons. 
> 
> We have a California Towhee nesting in a bush about 7 ft. from the ground in our 
> front yard and a Nuttall's Woodpecker pair excavating a cavity in our neighbor's 
> dying Flowering Plum tree about 5 ft. above the sidewalk next to the street. 
> 
> -- 
> Karl Fowler 
> San Jose, CA 
> 
> -------------- Original message -------------- 
> 
> > SBBers: 
> > 
> > Summer Brausel and I biked along the Los Alamitos Trail this morning 
> (05/27/05). 
> > Near the restrooms at the Almaden Lake Park we paused to enjoy a pair of 
> HOODED 
> > ORIOLESs and WESTERN KINGBIRDs. On our return to the park around 11:30 AM we 
> > saw 2 CASPIAN TERNs on the island with a very active egret and Black-crowned 
> > Night Heron rookery. Our eyes fixated on a different bird in the water near 
> the 
> > island. As we tried to identify the bird a juvie GREEN HERON flew past us 
> > chasing its parent demanding food. This bird dived repeated and stayed up only 
> > a few seconds so it was a little difficult to get its field marks. I knew that 
> > it was a loon but which one was the question. With its large upturned bill and 
> > slight collar our call is a COMMON LOON. My guess is that it is a 1st summer 
> > bird. 
> > 
> > Good birding and biking, 
> > Peggy Don 
> > 
> > 
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