KarenI decided to chase the Yellow-billed Loon but without going to the stranger's house. The fishing pier was colder than I had prepared for. There were many Common Loons. I thought I saw one with a different bill, but it was a distant look. Just when I was ready to give up, another birder showed up and almost immediately found it. The loon turned its head and we saw the pale bill. Right then folks at the stranger's house reported the loon putting on a show. #birding
I would have been happy enough without seeing the Yellow-billed Loon. I've never seen so many Horned Grebes, many in breeding plumage, in one place. Seeing more than 10 Common Loons at one time was also a treat. There was at least one Red-throated Loon, a nonbreeder, and one Red-necked Grebe, identifiable by its honkin' big yellow bill. The other birder was ready to go to the stranger's house, but I needed to go back to my car before dying of hypothermia #birding
Wow the stranger just decided not to allow any more birders on their property! I'm glad I was not part of the problem. As I told that other birder on the fishing pier, I didn't want to impose my obsession on a total stranger.