Shorebird (heron?) in NC (1 Viewer)

A

akl7248

Member

• Jul 5, 2010

• #1

I am new to birding, and I came across this injured bird yesterday that I could not identify. I thought it was a type of heron, but I can't find one in my books or online with the blue-ish bill and legs and white, brown, and blue feathers. Hoping someone can help me! The photo was taken on a barrier island in NC near Cape Lookout. The injured bird eventually hopped back into the water and disappeared---I'd like to think he flew away, but I am not sure a happy ending was the case.

 

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W

Wigwam

Active member

• Jul 5, 2010

• #2

Looks to me to be some sort of diver/loon. Maybe a Great northern diver/loon. Im sure somebody will id it more accuratly for you.

 

Peter C.

...just zis guy, you know?

• Jul 5, 2010

• #3

Common Loon (probably hatch-year?) , and not a happy bird. If it came ashore like this, there's definitely something not right with it ...

 

Cristian Mihai

Cristian Mihai

• Jul 5, 2010

• #4

Peter C. said:

Common Loon (probably hatch-year?) , and not a happy bird. If it came ashore like this, there's definitely something not right with it ...

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Agreed.

 

A

akl7248

Member

• Jul 5, 2010

• #5

Thanks. The bird was definitely in distress. I wanted to help it but was unsure what to do---we were an hour boat ride from town and traveling in a small skiff. There was no way we could take the bird with us on that long bumpy ride back in, and unsure whether or not there was anyplace that would take him in once we got there. When he went back out on the water, I saw him raising up and flapping his wings several times, so I was hoping he was going to be okay...

 

RJP

Well-known member

• Jul 5, 2010

• #6

Making sure the bird got back in the water was probably the best feasible thing you could do in that situation. On land a Loon has practically no chance of survival, as they are pretty helpless out of the water (unlike, say, many ducks).

 

Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Jul 5, 2010

• #7

It's a Common Loon that hatched last year or earlier. Year-old birds linger far to the south of the breeding range in places like North Carolina. The species breeds no closer than northern New York and northern New England.

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Jul 6, 2010

• #8

akl7248 said:

Thanks. The bird was definitely in distress. I wanted to help it but was unsure what to do---we were an hour boat ride from town and traveling in a small skiff. There was no way we could take the bird with us on that long bumpy ride back in, and unsure whether or not there was anyplace that would take him in once we got there. When he went back out on the water, I saw him raising up and flapping his wings several times, so I was hoping he was going to be okay...

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I mean, you probably made the right choice. Trying to move a bird of that size, strength, and bill size would not be wise, nor safe - not for you anyway.