Cecil, the ones that I've seen down in Texas were either sunning themselves on dead tree branches with their wings extended or swimming like loons.
So Tan is ruled out then, and it's not damaged enough to be hit by a northern pike. Hmmm... Something very, very, fishy here.
Perhaps it was the LPP* bird? The species has been know to take on birds much bigger than itself. They travel in close groupings and are extremely fast!
* Lead Pellet Projectile bird
