Date: 7/14/25 10:34 pm From: Denise Hamilton via groups.io <2napabirders...> Subject: [northbaybirds] Pt. Reyes, Fish Docks, question about loons, 7.14.25
Hi all, Tired of sitting at home and didn't want to go birding inland because of the heat, so headed over to Pt. Reyes. Went out to the Fish Docks, walking down the road to get down to the water's edge. There we saw a 'flock' of RED-THROATED LOONS - 20 together right next to the shore and more a bit further out. About 1/2 of them had red throats & silvery heads. There were also 10+ PACIFIC LOONS in various plumages. And, one RED-NECKED GREBE in decent breeding plumage, but a bit too far off to see it clearly. Did not see any COMMON LOONS.
When I got home I went to Birds of the World, to read about the loons. It says, "Rarely observed in most wintering areas during the summer, although juveniles remain at sea throughout the year." It also says that fall migration starts the earliest in mid-August. *So does this mean that all of these loons actually wintered here and have just stayed put? * Amazing to see so many together!
Swainson's Thrushes singing all over! Also a lot of singing Wrentits & Purple Finches. American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins were abundant among all the other birds we saw.
