Yellow-billed Loon, Standley Lake

[Nathan Pieplow]

Cole Wild and Nick Komar report a juvenile Yellow-billed Loon at
Standley Lake (Jefferson County) right now, out in the center. Also
at Standley are at least 3 Common Loons.

They saw the Parasitic Jaeger and Surf Scoters at Chatfield. They
did NOT find an Arctic Loon at Marston, although they saw 10 Common
Loons, one of which had significant white along the sides. This
might be the bird people have been calling a possible Arctic.

Nathan Pieplow
Boulder

[Nick Komar]

Brief comment: This rare Yellow-billed Loon was studied for at least 30 min
at very long range but under perfect viewing conditionss through telescopes.
It was on the small end for its species (slighter than most of the Common
Loons near it) , but consistently showed a yellow bill, paler brown color on
upperparts, clear pale post-auricular area patch, and somewhat blocky head.
Juvenal pale fringes to scapulars was also prominent. We were unable to
photograph it unfortuntely.

We ended up finding a dozen Common Loons on this lake. One of these showed a
lighter brown head and hint of a pale post-auricular patch.

Good luck refinding the bird. Please let me or the list know if you do!

Nick Komar
Fort Collins CO