The bird in the photos posted by Jim is definitely not the bird off Arcola Creek. I am posting so as not to send others on a wild loon chase. I am making no ticks on my checklist today. After reading Kevin's post and reviewing my observations, I don't find anything that convincingly eliminates common loon. The white on the sides was noted during extensive preening by the bird and I find my other observations hopeful (and even relevant), but not diagnostic; moreover, I can not say that I would have given it careful scrutiny under other circumstances. I am very glad that Kevin reported his non-sighting. I didn't feel common loon in my gut, but given all, I'm not convinced it was anything else. Cheers, Ben Fambrough Cleveland Heights ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]