Denise Hughes

Denise Hughes

Denise Hughes

Hey all, RL here.

Saw the reported white loon yesterday afternoon. First had in my scope from the Black Sands eBird Hotspot. Went around to the Cove Rec. Site to get better views.

The bird was with two other COLO’s and all were …the same size. Had in scope and during the time I was there, the bird did not rise out of the water, but, was actively preening its back over its right shoulder, no wing stretching, lifting a leg to scratch or any other out of water movement. So did not see any thing I could say was a sign of being banded. May try again later this day.

My take is that  this bird is leucistic, not albino. Had a dark eye and the bill was a normal COLO coloration.

CGB. RL

On Sun, 1 Feb, 2026 at 7:49 AM, Kent Kleman via groups.io <Kentkleman@…> wrote:

To: ible@groups.io

On January 30 I posted on the Idaho Rare Birds Facebook page about an all-white loon at Cove Recreation Site on CJ Strike. I have been contacted by biologists who banded a young white loon last year. They asked if I saw any leg bands in the event it lifted
a leg out of the water to stretch or scratch its face. I didn’t see any bands. 

If anyone goes out to see it, look for leg bands and note the color of them as well as the leg they were on. Also, try to compare the size of it relative to the other loons in the area. 

Very interesting bird for sure. 

Kent

On January 30 I posted on the Idaho Rare Birds Facebook page about an all-white loon at Cove Recreation Site on CJ Strike. I have been contacted by biologists who banded a young white loon last year. They asked if I saw any leg bands in the event it lifted
a leg out of the water to stretch or scratch its face. I didn’t see any bands.