Arctic Loon:
In 1985 the Arctic Loon was split into two species, the Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica)and the Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica).
|
"... In 1985 the American Ornithologists’ Union split the species formerly known as Arctic Loon (Gavia arctica) into two separate species, with the Old World form retaining the former name and the form breeding in North America renamed Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica). The Arctic Loon as newly redefined breeds across northern Eurasia, with a small population in western Alaska, and winters coastally as far south as China and the Mediterranean. While Pacific Loon is a common winter visitor in the Pacific Northwest, the Arctic Loon was not known to occur in the region prior to the split. The two species are very similar; nonetheless birders soon learned how to tell them apart, and Arctic Loons began appearing in Northwest waters, albeit in tiny numbers. ... The first Washington record was a bird on the Columbia River behind Priest Rapids Dam (Grant and Yakima counties), January–April 2000. ..."
[Source: Seattle Audubon Society, "BirdWeb" website, 2009]
|
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Arctic Loon, Blind Slough, Oregon.
Image taken January 13, 2008.
|
Blind Slough, Oregon, located approximately 15 miles east of Astoria, winds itself along the floodplain on the south side of the Columbia River. The concrete bridge across the Slough is a great place to photograph diving birds such as the Western Grebe, Red-throated Loon, and Double-crested Cormorant. During the winter of 2007-2008 an Arctic Loon hung out. Apparently the fishing was good.
|
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Arctic Loon, Blind Slough, Oregon.
Image taken January 13, 2008.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Preening, Arctic Loon, Blind Slough, Oregon.
Image taken January 13, 2008.
|
|
