Common Loon

Description:

This is a winter migrant. Colors on the winter plumage is duller then the summer bird. Winter they would have black heads, spotted backs and patterned collars. In winter they are more of a dark gray head, back and wings, with white throat and belly and dark collar partially around the neck. Rounded head with grey dagger like bill. Body swims low in the water so you don't see the tail.

Habitat:

Most of the time found in freshwater lakes, in the winter can be found on the coastline, bays, lakes, rivers and estuaries

Notes:

Spotted this in the San Francisco bay near jut of land in the East Bay swimming just beyond some Scaup.