There was little chance that Jeannette and I were not going to be taking full advantage of Tuesday’s spring-like weather on our day off. Temperatures in Portland reached 61F, setting a new record high, and nearly doubling the normal average high (31). A broad southerly flow – which increased in strength on Wednesday – and mostly sunny skies made for an unusually warm January Thaw day.

Jeannette and I covered the southern York County coastline, from Kittery to Moody Beach. We began in Kittery, with surprisingly few birds – even waterbirds – at Fort Foster, but nearby Seapoint Beach produced one Common Redpoll and an immature Northern Shrike.

The York Harbor Cliff Path was very productive, with a handful of Dark-eyed Juncos present, along with our second Northern Shrike of the morning (number 15 this year for me already!) and our best bird of the day – a “lingering” Gray Catbird! This hardy guy certainly welcomed the change in weather, but it is amazing that it has survived this long with our harsh weather to date. Of course, there is the potential of this bird being a freak mid-winter “reverse” migrant, especially given this strong southerly flow.

More typical winter-in-Maine birds were to be found at the Nubble – including 11 Harlequin Ducks, and Ogunquit’s Marginal Way produced another 24 of these festive birds. While the flock of 15 or so Cedar Waxwings perched in a crabapple tree was far from unusual, the fact that these birds were not feeding on apples at the time, but were flycatching a hatch of small midges was most unusual for the date (that, and I was observing this while in a t-shirt!).

Our birding day really heated up when we arrived at the Cliff House. 14 more Harlequin Ducks were present. A Pacific Loon was discovered here on Sunday, and it was one of the very few verified, documented reports of this species, so we hoped to get a look. It wasn’t long before we THOUGHT we had found it. A smaller, dark-backed loon, with a more smoothly rounded head, smaller bill, and a “maned” neck appearance. It was a bit far, and it just seemed too big to us – and especially to wide – more along the lines of a small Common Loon, but the head and neck shape fit Pacific, as did the relative proportions of the bill to the head. Unfortunately, it was the only loon around, so we had nothing to compare it to.

But, a short while later, we found a “real” Pacific Loon – feeding and resting within a group of 3 Commons. This bird, side by side with typical Commons, was much more distinct, and very easy to identify. And, the well-defined chin strap was a nice clincher.

Even this lousy, distant picture shows the size and shape difference between the smaller Pacific and the "battleship" that is a Common.

So, were there two Pacific Loons? Going back to look for our original “Pacific Loon” – as I had violated my own rule that if I have to MAKE it into a Pacific, it is NOT a Pacific! – we soon found it, but now it was much closer to shore, and in better light. It was definitely not a Pacific. But, what the heck was it?

Close scrutiny of the bill shape, facial pattern, and other plumage features identified this bird as a Common Loon, but there was clearly something seriously wrong with it – and we soon realized why this bird suggested Pacific Loon so strongly at a distance. For one thing, remnant (?) black (with small white flecks) breeding plumage feathers in the back gave it a very dark-backed look. And, our perception of head and bill shape – so important for identification of distant loons – was affected by a more serious (for this bird) problem. I can’t really explain it, but it was as if the bird had swallowed something way to big – which does happen – and it was stuck in its throat. The neck was very wide, and the crown and nape feathers seemed to be raised. This all made the bill look proportionally very small. I’m not sure what’s up with this bird, but it did not look “happy.” There also seemed to be some blood around the base of this bill. Comments on this bird are more than welcome -what's up this this guy?

While we felt quite bad for this bird’s apparent state of condition, it did provide a very interesting study. Weird individuals like this, along with things like darkish-throated juvenile Red-throated Loons (one of which was also present today), show why Pacific Loons are not easy birds – and therefore seem to be quite over-reported on the East Coast, where they are, in fact, rare birds - and therefore why documentation should be obtained for all of them.

But, the real highlight for us came a short while later, when found two Razorbills sitting on the water, relatively close, and Jeannette jumped in the scope for a look. After enjoying them for a couple of minutes, I returned to my scope and upon looking into it, noticed the Razorbills were no longer present.

I said, “Uh, Jeannette, did you see something other than the two Razorbills in here?” “No, why?” Well, as the Razorbills had floated out of the scope’s field of view, a Dovekie had floated in! Jeannette jumped back in for a long, good look at her life Dovekie – her number one nemesis FINALLY ticked. And to think, all of those long, cold hours seawatching were spent when all we needed was a day like this. And for me, I do believe that this was the first Dovekie that I have observed WITHOUT a jacket on!

A few short stops later, and we finished the day with a long walk on Moody/Ogunquit beach – getting Sasha thoroughly exhausted; always a challenge – with the avian highlight being a flock of 42 Sanderlings.

A lifer for Jeannette, a rarity to enjoy, a quandary to ponder, 49 “Harlies,” two shrikes, and an out-of-season vagrant/pioneer/lingerer/whatever it was actually doing here. And, 60 degrees. Not a bad day!

(Although, my high spirits for the day were more than somewhat dampened upon hearing the news - however expected that it was - that Ray Rice has declared for the NFL draft).