Great Northern Divers, aka Common Loons, were fairly common at Morro Bay, Monterey and Bodega Bay with the latter location often having small groups loafing around over high tide at the northern end of the bay. This first-winter bird was photographed at the mouth of the Marina at Morro Bay. Of Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver and Pacific Diver only this species gave itself up for the camera.
California - November 2009
Divers & Grebes
Western Grebe was the commoner and more widespread of the two 'large' grebes noted at both inland lakes and coastal waters. This individual was amongst the first birds to be photographed on the trip at San Francisco Bay. A flock of around 15 or so Westerns had only one Clarke's Grebe amongst them.
The following two images show comparisons between Clarkes and Western Grebes.
 and Western (R) Grebes San Francisco Bay Friday 131109 WEB 027.JPG)
The Western Grebe on the right differs from the Clarke's Grebe on the left in having a thinner, dull greenish bill; the Clarke's has a bright orange bill with blackish upper edge. It also has dark lores, white on Clarke's, dusky beneath the eye, white on Clarke's, broad black hind-neck, narrower on Clarke's and more solidly dark flanks than Clarke's Grebe giving the bird a darker overall appearance.
These birds were in San Francisco Bay on 13th November.
Western Grebe at the Salton Sea from the wall at Obsidian Butte mid November. The features that differentiate this species from the similar Clarke's Grebe are clearly visible here with the exception of the white wedge in front of the eye giving a paler more open face than the bird photographed at San Francisco Bay above.
Western Grebe at the Marina, Morro Bay 22nd November. The thin greenish-yellow bill, dark beneath the eye and relatively broad rear neck band all lead towards this bird being a Western Grebe. The Marina at Morro Bay provided some of the closest opportunities to watch and photograph both of the large grebes.
Western Grebe at the Marina, Morro Bay 22nd November. Same bird as in the previous image here showing the dark of the cap extending to beneath the eye.
Clarkes Grebe at the Marina, Morro Bay 22nd November. As can be seen this bird differs from the Western Grebes above in having obvious white lores and white eye surround (no black beneath the eye), brighter bill colouration, narrower black hand-neck and whiter flanks.
Perfect comparison, Western Grebe at the front and Clarke's Grebe at the rear, Morro Bay Marina 22nd November. Compare the bill colouration, the extent of the black and white on the head and broadness of the black band on the hind-neck.
Clarkes Grebe at the Marina, Morro Bay 22nd November. Same bird above and below.
Black-necked Grebes, aka Eared Grebe, were especially abundant at the Salton Sea with many being seen at Obsidian Butte. Also seen fairly commonly, but no where close to the numbers as the Salton Sea, at several coastal areas visited towards the end of the tip. The birds at the Salton Sea would often be close inshore.
The least common of the grebes was the Pied-billed Grebe. A couple of locations had fairly good counts of birds, such as Lake Merrit in Oakland, otherwise it was scattered birds all over the place. This bird was at the La Merced on the 15th November and is in winter plumage.
Great Northern Diver
Western Grebe
Clarke's Grebe
Black-necked Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe