Gavia stellataIf you wanted to roll the dice and pick just one morning of the year to go to Hamlin Beach SP in hopes of catching a big flight of Red-throated Loons, you probably couldn’t do any better than 25 November. During four years since 1994, flights of more than 1,000 birds have occurred on that date. Of course, an even better idea is to keep an eye on the weather in Moosonee, Ontario Province, on the south shore of James Bay – about 1,100 km north of us. Why? When Dominic Sherony analyzed the flights of Red-throated Loons at Hamlin Beach SP from 1993 to 1997, it became apparent that the triggering mechanism that set the loons in motion was the invasion of cold temperatures at their staging areas at Hudson and James bays. “On average, large flights – more than 200 loons per day – began on Lake Ontario three days after the invasion of a deep cold is centered approximately 1,100 km to the north,” Sherony wrote. “After this event, the period of sustained flight was maintained for 7-16 days when 80 percent of migration takes place.” (“Inland Fall Migration of Red-Throated Loons,” Sherony, Ewald and Kelling, Journal of Field Ornithology, June 2000) So there you have it: Yet another example of how weather patterns hundreds of miles away profoundly affect not only the kinds and numbers of birds that appear here, but the timing as well.BackgroundThe smallest of the loons differs from other members of the family in several respects. Whereas other loons utter a yodel, distinct for each male, pairs of Red-throated Loons engage in duets of wailing and a “hideous, far-carrying” so-called Plesiosaur call. Whereas other loons need to run up to 100m or more before taking flight from water, Red-throated Loons need less distance, “and can even launch from land.” It is also the only loon that regularly forages away from its nesting pond, flying to large lakes or the sea to feed and find fish for its young. This species breeds on remote ponds in coastal tundra areas across Alaska and far northern Canada, but breeds in more populated areas in Scotland and Scandinavia, and also across northern Russia. North American populations winter primarily along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Canadian populations are not considered endangered. However, Alaska populations declined about 50 percent from about 20,800 in 1977 to about 9,800 in 1993, primarily in the western tundra of that state. This may be in part because of competition with Pacific Loon, which remained stable. (BNA 513: 1, 18-20)Local history“I have frequently observed it on Canandaigua Lake, and on Lake Ontario off the Charlotte harbor where it is sometimes decidedly common,” Eaton (1910) wrote. He listed this as a fairly common transient and uncommon winter visitor at Monroe County, and an occasional migrant in Wayne. (Eaton I: 104, county charts) However, R. E. Horsey, in his listing of birds seen at Rochester and Monroe County from 1913 to 1936, indicated this species had been recorded in only six of those years, and never more than two birds at a time on dates ranging from 2 November to 10 April.Even in the 1950s and 60s, large fall flights were hardly ever recorded in our region. That doesn’t mean they weren’t occurring. In at least some instances, it appears, birders lacked the expertise or optics to confidently identify them. For example, “on November 29 (1952), Listman and Van Beurden noted 154 loons migrating from east to west along the lakeshore but they were so far out there was difficulty in identifying the species. Listman thinks they were mostly Red-throated Loons, however,” noted the Goshawk noteworthy records for that month. And the following year, “Loon migration reached a peak in the latter part of November,” noted the Goshawk monthly summary in 1953. “Flights of several hundred were reported on many days. Many of the later birds are apparently Red Throated Loons but the exact number is hard to determine.” (GOS, November-December 1953)When Leo Tanghe tallied up sightings from 1,665 outings by Genesee Ornithological Society members within a 50-mile radius of Rochester during 1951-1954, this species was reported only 69 times, only about a fourth as often as Common Loon. Fall tallies averaged only 7-10 birds, compared to 50 to 70 in spring. (KB 5: 69: 1A-2A)The 1,200, tallied along the west lakeshore by Walt Listman on 23 October 1958 was “almost unheard of.” (KB 8:115) Another 600 on 28 November 1963 (Kemnitzer) along the west lakeshore was considered “almost unprecedented” for that season, “although large flights are regular during April.” (KB 14:34) That is no longer the case, and it may have less to do with changes in occurrence than with increased birding savvy and better optics. For example, once birders began conducting regular, systematic fall lakewatches at Hamlin Beach SP, reports of large fall flights became the norm. Better spotting scopes have greatly improved the distance at which birders can pick up distant birds and separate them from Common Loon, especially for those observers willing to invest as much as $2,000 or more in modern, top-of-the-line spotting scopes. Indeed, the 14,000 migrant Red-throated Loons that were tallied, on average, during the last three years of the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch project, 1997-1999, represented “more than 20 percent of the population counted annually in the eastern United States.” (Ewald and Sherony, p. 26) StatusMonroe County annotated list (1985) described this as a regular, common to very common (sometimes abundant) spring and fall transient; a casual, very rare summer visitant, and an irregular, uncommon winter visitant.Livingston County, Fox (1998) considered this an irregular rare winter visitant, an occasional rare spring transient, a casual very rare summer visitant and a (presumably irregular) uncommon fall transient.OccurrenceOne of the first challenges for lakewatchers is learning to correctly separate Red-throated from Common loons as both species migrate offshore. As the fall migration progresses, there are abundant opportunities to do so. Fall: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 2 October to 20 November, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 16 October to 4 November. Subsequently, one on 10 September 2004 (R. Spahn, Bounds, J. Gurley) at Hamlin Beach was an even earlier “first of fall.” (GNR) Also early: one on 17 September 2002 (R. Spahn, Symonds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GNR)In most years had departed by 29 November, with a late departure date of 5 December. However, maxima from the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch project indicate good flights can occur at least a week later.Fall birds stage in the Hudson and James Bay region; as noted above, flights are triggered “with the invasion of deep cold conditions usually brought on by large low or high pressure cells,” Ewald and Sherony note. “On average, they arrive on Lake Ontario in clustered flights three days after cold conditions occur in the north . . .” Peak fall flights during the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch project occurred mid to late November, with 95 percent of the birds headed west. “Red-throated loon migration differs from Common Loon. They go through over a much shorter time period; their median date is later by 21 days; they have a higher percentage moving west; and they do not tend to feed in the shallow waters in large numbers as do Common Loons,” Ewald and Sherony note (p. 27). “It is likely that those leaving Lake Ontario fly south, crossing over Lake Erie, western Pennsylvania, and the Appalachian Mountains before reaching the coast,” Sherony notes. (Sherony, Ewald, Kelling) Perhaps the most amazing set of numbers occurred in 1997 at the lakewatch, when more than 1,000 were counted on each of seven different days. (KB48: 48).Fall maxima: 1,200, “almost unheard of,” on 23 October 1958 (Listman) along the west lakeshore. (KB8:115) 2,000 at Point Breeze 31 October 1989 tallied by Walt Listman as they migrated past his home. (LG, November 1989) 1,867 on 12 November 1997 (Lanzone) Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS, January 1998) 1,413 on 16 November 1993 (Ewald, Bounds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS January 1994) 1,500 on 16 November 2003 (Symonds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GNR) 1,783 on 17 November 1997 (Lanzone) Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS, January 1998) 2,206 on 18 November 1999 (Ewald) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, January 2000) 1,919 on 20 November 1997 (Lanzone) Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS January 1998) 3,785 on 21 November 2001 (D. Tetlow, Davids, Bounds), establishing a state record, at Hamlin Beach SP. (KB 52:59; LG January 2002) 2,777 on 25 November 1997 (Lanzone) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS January 1998) 1,908 on 25 November 1998 (Albanese, Symonds) Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS January 1999) 1,944 on 27 November 1994 (Symonds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS January 1995) 1,008 on 28 November 1986 (Symonds, mob) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, December 1986) 703 on 5 December 2006 (R. Spahn) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, February 2007) followed by… 861 on 6 December 2006 (Symonds, R. Spahn) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, February 2007) 666 on 12 December 1998 (Albanese) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, February 1999)Winter: Red-throated Loons remain on Lake Ontario in small numbers in winter. “In severe winters when the lake freezes, these birds like the grebes, are often taken unawares and left stranded on the ice apparently unable to rise, and flounder over the ice and snow in a helpless condition till they are either captured or die from exposure,” Eaton (1910) noted. He cited birds in this condition captured at Adams Basin on 10 January 1885 and taken in Bergen Swamp on 22 December 1903. (Eaton I: 104)During the 161 days Bill Symonds conducted a January-mid March lakewatch at Hamlin Beach SP from 1994-2000, he recorded this species 55 percent of the days with an average tally of three per day. (Ewald and Sherony, p. 20)Recorded in our region on 14 of the 33 January Waterfowl Counts conducted from 1975 to 2007, usually in single numbers, with a peak tally of 6 in 1993, then 11 in 2007. Winter maxima: 32 on 21 December 1997 (mob) Rochester CBC. (GOS, February 1998) 8 on 1 January 2005 at Hamlin Beach SP. (KB 55:171) 40 on 7 January 2007 (Symonds) Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, March 2007) 14 on 31 January 1998 (D. Tetlow, Davids) Point Breeze. (GOS, March 1998) 21 on 6 or 10 February 1999 (Symonds, D. Tetlow) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS, LG April 1999) 39 on 22 February 1998 (Symonds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS, April 1998) Spring: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 11 March to 18 May, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 26 March to 21 April. In most years had departed by 15 May, with a late departure date of 30 May.For several years, Allen and Bea Kemnitzer would travel the east lakeshore each spring, stopping at 20 to 30 points from Webster Park to 20 miles to the east to tally loons and other waterfowl. (BA, 19 April 1956) The conservative estimate of 500+ seen by the Kemnitzers on 14 April 1952 off Webster Park was considered “unprecedented for this area.” (GOS, May/August 1952) The Kemnitzers surpassed that on 21 April 1956 with 723 from Webster Park to Blind Sodus Bay (GOS, January/June 1956), and recorded another 500 on 19 April 1958. (KB8:46) Two years later, on 20 April 1960, Allen Kemnitzer “caught a tremendous loon migration on the lake,” and tallied 3,000 Red-throateds, along with 1,000 Common Loons, between Webster Park and Sodus Point in four hours, John Brown reported. (BA, 21 April 1960; GOS March/July 1960)Often large tallies east of the city far exceeded the number of birds seen to the west. The Kemnitzers’ “accumulated data indicate that a large flight moves north each spring across eastern Lake Ontario and that Rochester and the lake shore west of the city are just outside the flyway,” John Brown noted. (BA, 19 April 1956)Even with improved optics, spring tallies at Hamlin Beach have usually been smaller than in fall. Would a spring lakewatch at Sodus Bay or other points along the east lakeshore produce larger tallies along the lines that Kemnitzer reported? This species is much rarer on inland lakes. Fox reported a Livingston County maximum of six on 13 April 1997 at Conesus Lake. (Fox, p. 19)Spring maxima: 220 on 26 March 2000 (Symonds) off Hamlin Beach SP. (GNR) 500+ on 14 April 1952 (Kemnitzers) off Webster Park. (GOS, May/August 1952) 500 on 19 April 1958 (Kemnitzers) east lakeshore. (KB 8:46) 3,000 on 20 April 1960 (A. Kemnitzer) between between Webster Park and Sodus Point in four hours. (BA, 21 April 1960; GOS, March/July 1960) 723 on 21 April 1956 (Kemnitzers) from Webster Park to Blind Sodus Bay. (GOS, January/June 1956)Summer: Though Red-throated Loons breed far to the north, stragglers are occasionally reported late spring into summer. George Guelf of Brockport reported specimens taken 13 June 1899, 22 June 1899 and 17 July 1896, but “there is not the slightest evidence to my knowledge of its ever nesting within our borders,” Eaton observed. (Eaton I: 104) Tanghe found no summer reports of this species when he examined 1,665 outings by Genesee Ornithological Society members during 1951-54. (KB 5: 69: 1A-1B) More recently, Region 2 Kingbird reports mention summer sightings in only seven of 30 years from 1975-2004, most in June. One 9 June 1985 (RBA field trip) at Canadice Lake was considered “quite a find” for that time of year (KB35: 265, GNR); another was there 13 June 1987. (LGNR) Another 13 June 1992 was at Hemlock Lake. (GNR) It was all the more remarkable, then, when Bill Symonds recorded this species all three months of summer 2006 at Hamlin Beach, with individuals on 25 June; 11, 18 July and 22 August. (LGNR) Gavia pacifica/arcticaOn 5 May 1963, while looking over waterfowl on the lake off Pultneyville, Allen Kemnitzer “spotted a small loon with ashy head in good light at fairly close range,” which he quickly recognized as a summer-plumaged Arctic Loon like ones he had seen in northwestern Canada. He was able to study it for several minutes as it swam “in close proximity to a number of Common loons and a few Red-throated loons in the vicinity” (BA, 9 May 1963). Thirteen years later, Walt Listman looked over 10 to 12 Red-throated Loons through a 30X scope, and focused on one that “immediately struck him as the bird he was looking for.” Blackish throat patch. Pearly gray on the back of the head and neck. An Arctic Loon. It, too, was off Pultneyville. Listman was standing in almost exactly the same spot where Kemnitzer saw his bird. (BA, 14 April 1976)BackgroundPacific was split from Arctic as a separate species in 1985 “creating yet another identification headache for birders,” Joseph DiCostanzo notes (Levine, p. 96). Depending on plumage, they are difficult to distinguish from each other or other loons. Pacific Loon is probably the most abundant loon in North America, notes the profile of this species in the The Birds of North America series. Except during its brief three-month breeding season on freshwater tundra ponds, it prefers marine habitats, and stages “spectacularly abundant and conspicuous” migrations along the Pacific Coast to and from wintering waters off Mexico. Its breeding grounds extend from Siberia, across Alaska and northern Canada to the Hudson Bay region. Although most eastern states have recorded vagrant Pacific Loons, “the numbers of records vary dramatically from state to state and a significant proportion of reports may involve misidentifications of Common or Red-throated loons.”
Arctic Loon consists of two subspecies, a widespread Eurasian race and a Siberian race, known as Green-throated Loon, that extends “marginally” to western Alaska. “Beginning in 1991, a pattern of occurrence along the Pacific Coast during migration and winter has emerged. Records of Arctic Loons in North America south of Alaska have occurred from 2 Nov to 18 June, all involving single birds, many of these determined to be immatures.” The few extralimital reports away from the Pacific Coast do not satisfactorily eliminate Pacific Loon or, “in some cases, even Common and Red-throated loons, the latter more frequently involved in misidentifications than appreciated.” (BNA 657: 1-2, 5)StatusMonroe County annotated list (1985) described Arctic Loon (prior to split) as a casual, very rare visitant.OccurrencePrior to 1985, before Pacific was split from Arctic as a separate species, there were these records from our region:One on 26 April 1959 (Harold and Rachel Axtell) at Point Breeze. The Axtells were examining two Red-throated Loons through spotting scopes at a range of about 600 feet when a noticeably darker loon approached them. “I was about to remark how convenient . . . that we could (make) . . . a direct comparison between the Red-throated Loons and a Common Loon, but before I could voice the statement the blackish loon came alongside the other two and it was at once obvious that there was no apparent size difference,” Harold late wrote. At the same time Rachel noted white on top of the head and suggested Pacific (Arctic) Loon. Later in the day the bird was relocated off County Line Road, providing numerous opportunities to compare it directly alongside Common and Red-throated loons. “Dr. Axtell was already well acquainted with the Arctic Loon, having seen hundreds of them on the Pacific Coast.” (B&M, pp. 80-81; KB 13:160) Kemnitzer’s bird on 5 May 1963 at Pultneyville (KB 13:160) Listman’s bird on 8-10 April 1976 at Pultneyville (KB 26:159)One on 23 October 1981 (Davids) at Russell Station (KB 32:39)Since the split: 1) one Arctic or Pacific in breeding plumage 5 May 1987 (Griffith) off Dewey Avenue, Greece (KB37:147). “No attempt was made by the observer to distinguish between Arctic and Pacific Loon, and from the write-up we could not do so either,” the GOS statistics committee noted (GNR). Accepted by NYSARC. (KB 38:229) 2) one Pacific 14 April 1995 (Symonds) off Hamlin Beach SP. (KB45: 188) 3) one Pacific or Arctic 29-30 November 1996 (Davids, Griffith) off Point Breeze (KB 47:39). Not accepted by NYSARC as Pacific, but accepted as either Pacific or Arctic. (KB 49:118) 4) one Pacific in breeding plumage 27 April 1997 (R. and S. Spahn) off Durand Eastman Park (KB 47:198). Not accepted by NYSARC. (KB 51:494) 5) one Pacific 31 December 1999 (D. Tetlow) off Hamlin Beach SP (KB 50:160). 6) one or more Pacific 30 October-5, 13 November 2002 (R. Spahn) off Bear Creek, Wayne County. (KB 53:47-49) Accepted by NYSARC. (KB 54: 286-287) 7) one Pacific 14 April 2003 (R. Spahn) off Hamlin Beach SP (KB 53:233). Not accepted by NYSARC. (KB 56: 29) (Note: One reported on 2 January 1993 at Irondequoit Bay outlet was not accepted by NYSARC – KB 46:300 – and is not listed in either club newsletter or Region 2 Kingbird report.) The New York State Avian Records Committee, accepting the 2002 sighting above and one other that year, noted that: “At both locations, the observers noted the absence of white markings on the black back implying these were adult birds and carefully described the crisp border between black and white plumage, thin pointed bill, rounded head and dark smudgy line running from side to side under the chin. Size and posture were also indicative of Pacific Loon. The latter feature and absence of a white flank ruled out Arctic Loon (G. arctica).” (KB 54: 287)In not accepting the 2003 sighting above, NYSARC commented: “This loon was studied briefly as it flew past the lakewatch and was already heading away from this experienced observer when first spotted. A number of details including fast wing beats and two relatively narrow checkered stripes along the back were suggestive of the closely related Pacific and Arctic (G. arctica) loons. However, in mid-April many loons are in odd, transitional plumage and the Committee was not convinced that one of the commoner species could be adequately ruled out.” (KB 56:29)In not accepting the 1997 report, NYSARC observed: “A number of details in this report seemed inconsistent for Pacific, or for that matter the very similar Arctic Loon. The crown and nape were described as slightly darker than the rest of the dark parts of the head and hindneck. If anything, Pacific Loons should show a paler crown and nape. On a second round of review, this record received only one positive vote.” (KB 51:494) Gavia immerOf all the events Bill Symonds has documented during countless hours of observations at Hamlin Beach SP, one of the most impressive occurred on 1 November 1986. “The lake shipping season was still in full swing and the passage of lake freighters was quite common,” Frank Dobson reported. (Birds, 23 November 1986) “As three ships passed in front of the bluffs that day, they disrupted all the waterbirds resting in their path.” At one time, there were more than 3,000 Common Loons “on the wing,” amid hundreds of White-winged Scoters, goldeneyes and other waterfowl. “It was quite a day at Hamlin Beach.” Equally impressive for many local birders, however, is when resting or feeding birds drift close to shore. Then comes a magical moment, as the “penetrating note, loud and weird” comes wafting over the water.
Background“The scream of the loon, uttered at evening, or on the approach of a storm, has to my ear, an unearthly and mournful tone resembling somewhat the distant howling of a wolf,” Eaton (1910) wrote. (Eaton I:101) “The Common Loon is surrounded by an aura of myth and magic,” note McIntyre and Barr in their profile of this species for The Birds of North America series. This loon is featured in a multitude of Native American tales, and “perhaps no species has aroused such extensive public concern over its declining populations and the environmental factors that threaten them.” “Possessed of a form both lovely and functional, a voice that haunts, and a need for quiet spaces, the Common Loon has taken on meaning beyond itself in recent years. It has become one of the most admired of New York’s birds and is a subject of intense study and concern,” John M. C. Peterson has observed. (Andrle, p. 26) The North American Loon Fund is dedicated to this species’ preservation. Common Loons breed on freshwater lakes across virtually all of Canada and Alaska, and in the Great Lakes region and northeastern U.S., wintering primarily along the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts. They also breed in Greenland and Iceland. Territorial fights can be lethal when one loon impales another with its bill. Extremely long dives lasting up to 15 minutes are possible, but rare. Intentional shooting of loons in the early 20th century, based on false information that loons destroy game fish, was probably devastating, and caused loons to disappear from much of the southern part of their range. More recently, numbers have been increasing because of conservation efforts, but acid rain and human development and intrusion on breeding lakes is still a threat to this species, with jet ski use especially alarming. (BNA 313: 1-2, 10, 11, 18, 20) Local historyEaton (1910) listed this as a fairly common transient and occasional winter visitor at Monroe County, but only a rare migrant in Livingston, also occurring in Wayne. (Eaton I: county charts) R. E. Horsey, in his listing of birds seen at Rochester and Monroe County from 1913 to 1936, shows a maximum count of 20 birds in spring, and only 6 in fall, with average sightings of only one to three birds. Dates ranged from 6 February to 18 May and from 19 October to 22 December.When Leo Tanghe analyzed the tallies from 1,665 outings by GOS members from January 1951 through December 1954, he found this species reported 294 times within a 50-mile radius of Rochester. Peak occurrence was mid April to late May and again late October through November, with peak average counts of 10 to 20 birds. However, Listman and Van Beurden tallied 250 along the lakeshore on 8 November 1952. (GNR) Another 600 on 27 November 1953 (Van Beurden, Simons) were off the Charlotte Pier. (GNR)Thanks to improved optics and systematic lakewatches, even larger numbers of migrants are now routinely observed, especially in fall.StatusMonroe County annotated list (1985) described this as a regular, very common (sometimes abundant) spring and fall transient; an occasional, very rare summer visitant, and an occasional, uncommon winter visitant. However, now reported almost annually in summer and winter.Livingston County, Fox (1998) considered this a regular uncommon winter visitant, a regular fairly common spring transient, an occasional rare summer visitant and a regular fairly common fall transient.OccurrenceFall: The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 24 August to 31 October, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 24 September to 22 October. Subsequently, one on 9 August 1997 (G. Chapin, Sherony) at Braddock Bay was an even earlier “first” of fall. (GNR) Also early: One on 10 August 1986 (Davids, Symonds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, September 1986)In most years had departed by 23 November, with a late departure date of 18 December. Peak fall flights off Hamlin Beach SP usually occur early November. But the migration is protracted, with heavy flights possible from mid October to mid November or after. During the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch project, the average tally for a fall season was 7,721. Migrating Common Loons were usually seen singly or in pairs, at low altitude. “On days of heavier movement, small groups (3-5) of loosely associating loons occur, and movement on peak days can seem like a steady stream of passing loons. Small flocks approaching 25 have been known to occur on these days.” (Ewald and Sherony, pp. 24-25)Most observed at Hamlin Beach during the lakewatch project were flying westbound, with little or no correlation to weather fronts; eastbound birds were more likely later in the season, Ewald and Sherony observed. However, an interesting two-way traffic flow occurred on 20-31 October 2005, when flights of 852, 1,433 and 1,626 on the 20th (R. Spahn, mob), 25th (Symonds, mob) and 26th (R. Spahn, mob) were all headed east, but another 1,144 on the 31st (R. Spahn) were headed west at Hamlin Beach. (LG December 2005) The next day, on 1 November, 1,460 flew by (Symonds, mob) and 1,200 were on the water. (KB 56:68)It is likely that fall birds depart the lake in at least two different directions.For example, on 15 November 1978 Mike Tetlow tallied 149 heading south over Perinton in less than a half-hour. (LG, December 1978) Many of these birds were probably headed toward Cayuga Lake, just to the south and east, where systematic counts of Common Loons in 1992 and 1993 produced totals of 4,942 and 8,374. About two-thirds of the birds flew by between 30 October and 7 November. “We suggest that loons leave from Lake Ontario, fly through the Finger Lakes region, and continue south passing over the Susquehanna River basin to the Chesapeake Bay,” wrote Bill Evans, Bob Meade, Tom Nix and Steve Kelling. (“The Fall Flight of Common Loons over Cayuga Lake,” KB 44:164-169)And yet, during seven years of the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch project, southbound loons were observed only once. Instead, Ewald and Sherony note, there was a net migration of birds headed west during the project, “and the birds are using different weather conditions for the westward migration than those Common Loons leaving Lake Ontario to fly south over Cayuga Lake bound for Chesapeake Bay. It is possible that the westward directed birds are a different group… and that these Common Loons are likely following the same route taken by Red-Throated Loons,” which apparently take a westerly course before turning south over western Pennsylvania.A “remarkable flight” of about 700 birds occurred over Durand Eastman Park on 18 November 1962. “The morning was foggy and the birds apparently had become confused after losing their way,” Howard Miller reported. “They milled around aimlessly for some time before disappearing over Lake Ontario.” (KB 13:32) It was a “day of heavy overcast with intermittent snow, and the loon flock would fly along the shore for a way and then drift back with the wind. The birds seemed lost and at a loss for flight direction,” John Brown reported. (BA, 22 November 1962)Many local birders appreciate the fact that observations of these birds are not limited to flybys. During the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch project they were more likely than Red-throated Loons to be found “staging” – feeding in shallow water close to shore. (Ewald and Sherony, p. 26) The number of Common Loons resting or feeding on the surface during the project, for example, often exceeded 100; the largest such count, 459 on 17 October 1993, occurred on a rainy day.Other fall maxima: 1,000+ “mostly on the water” on 8 October 2006 (Symonds, R. and S. Spahn, mob) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, December 2006) 1,544 and 1,728 flying west on 15 and 16 October 2006 (Symonds/R. Spahn) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, December 2006) 2,602 on 16 October 1993 at Hamlin Beach SP. (Ewald and Sherony, p. 25) 3,000 on 1 November 1986 (Symonds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, December 1986) 2,982 on 7 November 1997 (Lanzone) at Hamlin Beach SP. (Ewald and Sherony, p. 25; GOS January 1998) 3,500 on 7 November 2004 (Symonds, D. Tetlow) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, January 2005) 2,000 on 9 November 1985 (S. Taylor) at Sodus Bay. (LG, December 1985) 1,035 on 11 November 1998 (Albanese) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS January 1999) 55 on 28 November 1992 (C. Cass, mob) at Conesus Lake was a good inland count. (Fox, p. 19; GOS January 1993) Winter: Birders eager for a close look at these birds and their close cousins, the Red-throated Loons, need only venture out the Charlotte Pier in December. Both species can often be seen diving for prey at close range. Small numbers of Common Loons linger into winter. During the 161 days Bill Symonds conducted a January to mid-March lakewatch at Hamlin Beach SP from 1994-2000, he recorded this species less often than Red-throated Loon. Common Loons were present on only 33 percent of the days, with an average tally of only one per day. His maximum count was 8 on 22 February 1998. (Ewald and Sherony, p. 20)Recorded in our region on 19 of the 33 January Waterfowl Counts conducted from 1975-2007, usually in single digits, with a peak tally of 10 in 2002 and again in 2006.Spring: Numbers begin to increase in late March as northbound migrants reappear. The Monroe County annotated list (1985) indicated a range of arrival dates from 2 March to 29 April, with a mid range, or “normal arrival time” of 3 to 21 April.In most years had departed by 2 June, with a late departure date of 17 June. Good late season tallies, all by Bill Symonds at Hamlin Beach SP, were 20 on 2 June 1998 (GNR), 19 on 2 June 2001 (GNR), 40 on 3 June 1983 (LGNR), 17 on 3 June 1999 (GNR), and 16 on 16 June 1995. (GOS, Sept 1995)Spring maxima: 1,424 on 7 April 2000 (J. Skelly, Symonds) off Hamlin Beach SP. (GNR) 1,000+ on 19 April 1992 (R. Spahn) “on water” off Webster. (GOS, June 1992) 1,000 on 20 April 1960 (Kemnitzer) along the east lakeshore. (KB10: 59) 1,200 on 25 April 1964 Kemnitzer) east lakeshore. (GOS, June 1964) 1,260 on 25 April 1996 (Symonds) off Hamlin Beach SP. (GOS, June 1996) Another 199 on 17 April 1997 (J. and K. Fox) Conesus Lake was a good inland count. (Fox, p. 19) Summer: It is not unusual to find individuals on the lake during summer. This species was found on Lake Ontario all three months during the summer of 1992. (KB42: 236) July records are now almost annual.There also have been several summer sightings of individuals or pairs on Conesus, Hemlock, and Canadice lakes. (Fox, p. 19) Two on 1 July 1990 (mob), for example, were at Hemlock Lake. (GNR) One on 25 July 1989 (C. Cass, N. Miller) was even at Cobb’s Hill reservoir. (GOS, October 1989) Have common loons ever bred in our region? A pair with a young bird “barely out of the down state” was found by Ambrose Secker in a small cove between Summerhaven and Shore Acres on 11 June 1938. “A small inlet connected this cove with a pond where Secker believed that the loons must have nested,” Beardslee and Mitchell wrote. (B&M, p. 79) However, despite nearly annual summer sightings, there has been no confirmation of breeding since.Summer maxima: 1-6 all during July 2003 (Symonds) at Hamlin Beach SP. (GNR) 8 on 3 July 2007 (Guthrie) at Hamlin Beach SP. (LG, September 2007)