12 replies to this topic

[Grandpa577]

Taken today off West End 2, Jones Beach


Loon_9967o by Grandpa577, on Flickr

[BarnSwallow]

I'm going to say manta ray with a duck head. Or, on second thought, I think it's a common merganser!

[GreatHorn]

Merganser for me too - that bill is long, thin, and red.

[psweet]

This is a Common Loon. The big feet trailing behind are diagnostic for loons -- you won't see any duck with them. It's a Common because of the jagged edge on the dark color on the neck -- you can just see it in the inset. The only other loon likely in NY is Red-throated, I believe, and they have a paler head and neck, with noticeably smaller feet.

[Grandpa577]

Thank you. Common and Red-throated are the most likely near Long Island.

[jdeitsch]

Common Loon seconded

[RyanI]

Common loon thirded

[blackburnian]

I'm not convinced and I see that almost diagnostic white throat patch

[psweet]

What alternative are you proposing, blackburnian? If you think it's a Merganser, you're going to have to explain the feet. If you're proposing Red-throated Loon, we'll have to look a bit closer.

[Joejr14]

What alternative are you proposing, blackburnian? If you think it's a Merganser, you're going to have to explain the feet. If you're proposing Red-throated Loon, we'll have to look a bit closer.

I'm not really sure what's to debate here. Nothing about this bird is right for merganser, and it's clearly a loon. Facial pattern, bill size/shape, and flight pretty much rule out Red-throated. Common Loon fifthed?

[blackburnian]

After looking at a larger view I agree with Common Loon

[GreatHorn]

I'm not really sure what's to debate here. Nothing about this bird is right for merganser, and it's clearly a loon. Facial pattern, bill size/shape, and flight pretty much rule out Red-throated. Common Loon fifthed?

I completely change my ID to Common Loon now, thanks to psweet explaining that ducks do not have long feet like that. However, I'm a little taken aback that you say this bird is nothing like a merganser. Being the novice I am it did give me a merganser impression (besides the feet) - I zoomed in my computer really far and I could even see a bright red pixel or two at the base of the bill, so that threw me off. Compare to this picture of a merganser found online and I don't think they look "nothing" alike.

[Joejr14]

I completely change my ID to Common Loon now, thanks to psweet explaining that ducks do not have long feet like that. However, I'm a little taken aback that you say this bird is nothing like a merganser. Being the novice I am it did give me a merganser impression (besides the feet) - I zoomed in my computer really far and I could even see a bright red pixel or two at the base of the bill, so that threw me off. Compare to this picture of a merganser found online and I don't think they look "nothing" alike.

Sorry, dude. Didn't mean to sound crotchety or anything.

The feet at the back are 100% diagnostic for a Loon. I see them in flight all the time in the winter, so I instantly recognize it. If you don't see them all the time, I can see how this might be confusing.