Red-throated Loon????

These Digiscope photos were taken on Nov. 17, 2012, at Hoover Reservoir, Franklin County. I believe this is a juvenile Red-throated Loon, but would like other opinions. The photos are obviously not good, they were taken from a considerable distance, but hopefully they will help identify the bird.

The photos below were taken at Hoover Reservoir in Franklin County on April 30, 2012.  The subject Gull is believed to be a California Gull, pending acceptance of this identity by the Ohio Bird Records Committee.

The bird was facing directly toward me for the entire time it was in my view, thus there are no views from the side, and the dark gray plumage is not as obvious as it was when I was viewing the gull.

The yellow legs with a tinge of green are apparent in these photos. Also note the black and red areas on the bill. There is also a paler yellow or white tip. The eye appears dark in the first photo.

The second photo shows the bird with one wing raised, making the underwing visible. The black tips of the primaries is evident.

I also had a view of this bird, an immature Herring Gull and an immature Ring-billed Gull together, showing the comparative sizes, the Herring Gull being the largest and the Ring-billed the smallest. Unfortunately the subject gull left before I could photograph this grouping.

Greater Black-backed Gull 4-25-2012

The photos below are digiscope photos of a gull at Hoover Reservoir on April 25, 2012. I believe this is a third year Greater Black-backed Gull, but I have very little experience with Gulls. I would like comments from those with expertise in this area.

Unfortunately I was unable to get any better photos. The bird was preening, and when I had a side view the bird hid its head every time I took a photo.  Hopefully the photos are sufficient to ID the bird, however.

Note the pale pink legs, which I noticed while viewing the bird. Also note that in several of the photos there is a Herring Gull in front of the subject bird. 

Here are two new photos of the albino shorebird at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park, taken on September 1, 2011. My previous post indicates that I thought the bird to be a Lesser Yellowlegs. However, I now believe it is a Solitary Sandpiper, and that the yellow legs are related to the albinism.

When I saw the bird on August 31, it was alone, and when I saw the yellow legs I immediately identified the bird as a Lesser Yellowlegs and didn't consider any other ID.

Rob Thorn had seen the bird on the previous day, associating with two Solitary Sandpipers. He saw no difference in size or behavior between the Solitary Sandpipers and the albino bird.

I went back to the location today and refound the bird. This time it was with two Solitary Sandpipers, and I noted that the albino bird was perhaps very slightly smaller than the Solitary Sandpipers. A Lesser Yellowlegs would be significantly larger.

I am now convinced that the bird is indeed a Solitary Sandpiper. The second photo shows both a normal Solitary Sandpiper and the albino bird.

This digiscope photo is an almost entirely albino Lesser Yellowlegs seen at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park on August 31, 2011 from the Ellis Pond viewing area. Note the all white feathers with the dark eye, the pale yellow bill and the yellow legs. The second photo is included to show the leg color.

These two Black Vultures were seen on December 4, 2009 at Deer Creek State Park. They were perched almost directly over the road to the boat ramp near the Marina. The photos are digiscoped.

Osprey, Deer Creek State Park, March 16, 2009




Lesser Black-backed Gull, Deer Creek State Park, March 16, 2009




Dickcissel, Blendon Woods Metro Park, March 7, 2009