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January 3

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Places to Visit and Explore Nature in Stanley Park Ecosystem Guides: Marine Stanley Park Visitor Map: with Park Features, Trails, and Destinations Second Beach

Common Loon Rarely, and seemingly magically, an adult common loon surfaces close to shore. This large bird, in its winter plumage, is a superb hunter. Common loons are pursuit predators capable of capuring fish in their elment. The loon is able to dive deep and relies on keen eyesight to locate its prey in the shadowy world beneath the waves. This species usually hunts well off the beach and sometimes far offshore. Common loons are the largest of the three loon species that can be seen off Stanley Park in the winter months. They're usually found alone. Sometimes two or more are sighted but they're almost always well spaced apart. The common loon is probably best identified by its large dagger-like bill. Note the pale bill colour with a dark ridge along the top of the bill in this winter bird. Patience coupled with the practice of slowly scanning the sea with binoculars should bring a common loon into view. Unfortunately common loon numbers are in decline. I took the picture in 2004 and although I've seen a few common loons each winter since, I haven't had the opportunity to view one at such close range again.       Field Guide Entry: Common Loon

Stanley Park Explorer http://www.stanleyparkexplorer.ca Produced by Peter Woods naturalist@stanleyparkexplorer.ca           Revised: May 20, 2011