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Post by bandj on Jun 20, 2011 13:37:23 GMT -8
During the Manning Park Bird Blitz we hiked the trail from Lightning Lake down to Strike Lake. At the far end of Flash Lake was a lone Pacific Loon: A few other species for the monthly list I'll add separately. Bryan and Janet
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Post by Chris on Jun 20, 2011 15:40:05 GMT -8
Great sighting and picture!
This would be the first record in our checklist around this time. This late it makes you wonder if there is a possiblity of it breeding here? I know there are some that breed on Vancouver Island.
Thanks for the monthly additions as well.
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Post by Gord on Jun 20, 2011 19:53:14 GMT -8
What an amazing find and a really beautiful capture. Now there is a bird whose colours photograph well and the background sure helps out. Great exposure!
Chris, breeding has to come to mind. I never knew they bred on Vancouver Island so why not here? Guy Monty is an exceptional birder from there who would likely know details such as those and is worth asking.
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Post by bandj on Jun 21, 2011 19:19:42 GMT -8
Browsing in Stokes latest field guide at the library I noticed that hybrids are possible between Pacific and Common Loons. Common Loons are at Lightning Lake and according to the checklist breed in the park. This opens up even more questions and breeding possibilities about the apparently lone Pacific Loon. Bryan
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Post by Chris on Jun 22, 2011 21:55:47 GMT -8
I had no idea that Paficic and Common Loons hybridize. Thanks for the info Bryan.
I have been wanting to go to Flash Lake so this might be the excuse I need to hike there.
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Post by martin on Jun 24, 2011 20:11:41 GMT -8
Great sighting, what a beautiful bird
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Post by ian on Jun 25, 2011 8:15:55 GMT -8
Great capture guys! I frequent that area a lot and haven't seen a Pacific there ever. I was up at Lac Lejeune a week ago fishing and had the Common Loons circling my feet as I floated in my tube waiting to steal any potential catch. I did watch one swallow a 14" rainbow headfirst after one of the guys had just caught and released it into the water. Quite a sight.
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Post by kestrel on Jun 25, 2011 20:07:14 GMT -8
Awesome find and shot!
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Post by Gord on Jun 25, 2011 21:35:17 GMT -8
Ian, those loons can really be bold on some Interior lakes!!
Looking at this bird, I dont see anything to suggest this individual is a hybrid. Like Chris, I was not aware they can hybridize with Common Loons though. Neat!
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Post by bandj on Jun 29, 2011 14:31:55 GMT -8
We got curious and did some research on this hybrid business: The new Stokes Field Guide to Birds of N A mentions that Pacific hybridizes with Common, and possibly Arctic. They also in their intro led us to www.bird-hybrids.com, which in turn led us to "Handbook of avian hybrids of the world", which in their turn led us to The Canadian Field-Naturalist, vol 88, 1974, page 367, which is a brief article by Robertson and Fraker about an apparent Common, Arctic hybrid family. Now this could have been Pacific, since 1974 was before they separated the species??? But that was all we could find - pretty skimpy evidence we think. Certainly this one did not look anything like a hybrid, and was definitely not chasing or being chased by any of the local Commons. We'd love to hear if anyone else spots the bird up there. Bryan
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