A Loony Day & Mergansers, Grebes, and a Surf Scoter

A late afternoon at Barnegat Inlet. Not too many sightings at first, but then as the park was closing and we moved to the end of the street next to it, we found Loons galore on the calm water. There were also Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, numerous gulls, and a lone Surf Scoter. The Scoter was difficult to see as its dark coloring seemed to blend in on itself, as evidenced in its picture. When we stopped at the bay as we were leaving Long Beach Island, we were rewarded with two Horned Grebes.

                                                                    Common Loon

 

 

Red-breasted Merganser

 

 

 

Surf Scoter

 

 

The Horned Grebe at day's end.