This Red-throated Loon, part of an impressive flight of this species throughout Pennsylvania in November 2006, represents either the fourth or fifth record of Red-throated Loon for the county of Allegheny.

 

An adult Red-throated Loon found by Mark Vass at Dashields Lock and Dam on Thanksgiving Day (23-Nov) was the fourth record for the county and the first since 1983. The next morning (24-Nov), Steve Thomas found another adult Red-throated Loon, pictured below, on the Allegheny River at the outlet of Squaw Run in Fox Chapel. This bird may represent the fifth record if it is a different individual than the Dashields bird; however, it is not possible to know for sure. The Fox Chapel bird remained through at least 26-Nov when the photos below were taken.

 

This loon proved to be very confiding. It was a simple matter of staying patient and waiting for it to take the correct position with respect to the sun and allow these stunning portraits.