Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica), Martinez Lake, Yuma County

This Pacific Loon was photographed by Lauren Harter on 12 May 2015

Casual at best in Yuma County, where there are no recent records. The date is also extremely late for a Pacific Loon in Arizona, though not unprecedented.

Though the pictures are low quality, most salient ID points are visible including medium-size bill, lack of white above the eye, smooth line of contrast on the head and neck with no jagged edge as in Common Loon, silvery nape, and smoothly rounded head and neck.

12 May 2015, photo by Lauren Harter

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer