Loon with odd bill

Common Loon, Quabbin, July 12, 2010
Common Loon, Quabbin, July 12, 2010

I am finally getting around to posting about an odd loon I saw while assisting Quabbin biologists with a loon survey. The bird in question had a slightly lighter bill with either a part of the bill too long or a part that had been broken off. The bird was by itself and perhaps not quite as active as the others seen that day. Otherwise it appeared normal. This is not the only 'odd' loon I have seen at Quabbin over the last several years. Another was even more unusual and interesting but that will have to wait for another time.