Date: 9/14/26 1:37 pm From: kathannelynch1 via groups.io <kathannelynch1...> Subject: [slocobirding] Santa Margarita Lake had 240 Western and Clark's Grebes, 44 occupied nests, 14 fledglings riding on backs (08/24/26)
I'm posting this slocobirding note for folks who may not know we have outstanding access to these grebes on Santa Margarita Lake. I do detailed surveys (a personal interest, not for a company) of Western and Clark's Grebes on Santa Margarita Lake most years. I've done a couple of counts by boat in 2026. MCAS Audubon (the Revel Team) has done wonderful monthly pontoon boat trips on te lake. I and others have observed pairs rushing, nesting, and with young in December as well as summer months.
Here is my recent note about Santa Margarita Lake. I will also post a separate slocobirding note about these two grebe species at Lopez Lake.
I counted 240 Western and Clark's Grebes on my last count on 08/24/26. The 240 grebes were 98 WEGR, 107 CLGR, and 35 WEGR/CLGR. There were 44 occupied nests and 14 fledglings riding on adults' backs or paddling nearby. The lake was 90.4% full. Two different eBird lists were needed to cover the two CA Bird Atlas Blocks of Santa Margarita Lake.
Although the two grebe species numbered about the same for the overall lake count, they preferred different parts of the lake. The Clark's preferred the main part of the lake where 67% of the grebes were Clark's. The Westerns dominated Salinas Bay near the dam in the northwestern corner of the lake where 90% of the grebes were Westerns. The 44 occupied nests on the lake were in two locations. Thirty (30) nests were in Murphy's Bay below the swimming pool and Osprey Campsites. Fourteen (14) nests were at the Salinas River Inlet on the far eastern edge of the lake.
