Date: 4/30/26 7:48 am From: Dawn Garcia via groups.io <avifan59...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Pacific Loon at Bolsa Chica, and loons this season
Hi Lam-Son and all, I wanted to comment more on the loons as I have in my eBird checklists. Seeing these birds in breeding plumage is a real treat!
I have seen more loons in the DP harbor and DP beaches than ever before (in the last 7 years that I have been here). Currently it includes a breeding plumed Common Loon and RT loon in the harbor (4/29: https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S329687161) and in April at least 3 individual RT loons at the same time. I also had a large raft of Pacific loons with grebes off of Salt Creek beach in March ( https://ebird.org/checklist/S310109840 ). None of this was considered rare, but I thought unusual.
I've estimated 2K Brandt's corms march-thru April and we are still seeing 500 plus, usually taking off by early morning to feed. I'm assuming with all of these divers the fishing is good, but not good enough to keep everyone alive.
I've also documented 4 dead RT loons, several grebes and Brandt's cormorants (not so uncommon), a common murre, and some pelicans this April.
