Waterbird from Plum Island, MA (1 Viewer)

[jocateme]

I was looking at pictures from my visit to Plum Island MA, USA last year in November 13 and noticed this bird in flight in two of the pics. It's just left of center in the first one and on the right in the second one. There's a Bonaparte's Gull and a Northern Gannet in the photos which help estimate size.

I initially though Common Loon and that's still my most conservative guess, but bill shape (looks shorebird-ish?), posture (tucked neck), and head pattern seem off. Any guesses?

 

[Scott98]

I would have to guess common Loon with the neck scrunched in. It does have a weird eye patch and darkness under the neck. The photo isn't good enough to tell for certain. To me, it looks more like a loon than a grebe or anything else. Loon would be the most common one for right offshore in the winter too.

Nice sighting of a northern gannet in the water that close to shore, I don't see that often. Plum Island is my backyard, good to see photos from there...cheers!

 

[payaminotom]

I want to say juvenile Black Guillemot, looks too small to be a loon to me

Although I may be wrong in thinking juv BGs dont have the red feet

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

It looks like a 2nd calendar year Gannet to me.

 

[jocateme]

I think you're spot on, Andrew! Everything seems to match 2nd-year gannet except perhaps bill shape — which may very well be just an illusion due to the low quality of the pic.

Scott, we saw some gannets flying even closer than that — pretty much over the sand —, which was unexpected and really cool! Plum Island is awesome, I hope I can make it back there soon.

Thank you all for your help!

 

[Scott98]

That sounds very interesting....another Gannet? The neck and head/neck colors do not look like a loon. I don't have much experience watching loons in flight. Wow, I've got to get back out there. It takes 20 minutes to get to the southern end of the island where this probably was.

the angle of the head and neck do look more Gannet than loon- same w/ the black eye patch:

northern gannet immature at DuckDuckGo

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