One of the goals of this year was to make it down to the southern reaches of Admiralty Inlet. It is something I've long wanted to do. The topography is different down there, and although I've been nearby in the spring, I've wanted to see the land in the summer. For one thing it is one of Canada's Important Bird Areas, an important nesting ground for geese and many other birds.
It was one of the birds that nests down there that has been the main object of my desire to go see that country. Back when I was first up here the only other bird enthusiast was the local wildlife officer. She told me that many, many, Yellow-billed Loons nest there. It is a bird I have hoped to see for some time, especially in its breeding finery.
But one thing led to another, and I once again put aside any hopes of getting down there. And with them any hopes of seeing a Yellow-billed Loon. But once again, this amazing year for surprise birds has continued for me. Last night I saw my first Yellow-billed Loon. What a beautiful bird.
Leah's sister had a friend arrive here yesterday for a visit. She was last here on a high school exchange trip nine years ago. Nine years? Impossible. Last night, as we headed down to visit Victor Bay we saw a loon in the small lake half way there.
That's not unusual. A pair of Red-throated loons has nested there as long as I can remember. And although I haven't checked out the lake much this season, last night I drove in for a better look. But the loon, was not the one I expected to see. It was very much unexpected.
My brain wasn't quite prepared to see something other than a Red-throated Loon, and when I first put the binoculars on it I had a "what the hell is that?" moment. The first thing that came to my mind is "what is a merganser doing here?" But I quickly realized what it was, the first Yellow-billed Loon I've ever seen.
I have no idea if there has been a pair breeding here, I suspect it was just foraging. But I plan on getting back over the next couple of days for a better look. Here then is a photo, a poor one, from far off, grainy and cropped. The obligatory record shot.
Comments
6 responses
I was hoping to read that you’d finally made it to the southern part of the inlet, a place that I’ve always wanted to visit as well (en route between Igloolik and Arctic Bay by kayak, one of my dream trips). Alas, it didn’t happen, but seeing your loon is almost as good a catch, isn’t it?
Wow, great sighting!
Congrats! Great find!
It will happen Michael. One of these years. I almost made it this year.
Thanks John and Liza.
Glad I ran into this site. Hope you don’t mind if I tweet your post. I”ll check back for your go ahead.
Of course I don’t mind if you re-tweet it. What I DO mind is linking comments to a commercial web page. So tweet away, just keep your spam away from my pages.