[obol] Arctic Loon reported in nw. coastal California

[David Fix Jude Power]

An apparent Arctic Loon is presently at Stone Lagoon, on the northern California coast in Humboldt County.  The bird was reported this morning diving actively opposite the visitor center along Highway 101 and was seen by Kerry Ross and Rob Fowler, who followed up on a "probable" report to the Bird Alert (707-822-5666) by an out-of-area birder.  This is a first for Humboldt and if accepted would, I believe, be the 6th for California and first north of Bodega Bay.  Stone Lagoon is a little less than an hour south of Crescent City and 52 miles south of the Oregon border.

Obviously the long-staying bird at Brownsmead would be of far greater interest to persons on this list, but since this species is so rare all along the West Coast, I thought it would be good to cross-post about it.    

At least two Slaty-backed Gulls, a Little Blue Heron, and a Crested Caracara have been in the Smith River bottoms lately, and a Slaty-back was seen at the outflow of Elk Creek just south of downtown Crescent City yesterday.  At least two and possibly three Slaty-backed Gulls have been documented in Humboldt County as well in recent weeks. 

David Fix
Arcata, California      
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