I spent 6:15-6:30 p.m. today looking at a bird I could not identify at the Sunnyvale Water Treatment Plant.
Walking out the trail that eventually goes behind Lockheed Martin, the bird was in the water to the RIGHT of the trail, between halfway to the bridge that goes up to the to the hill and the distance to the bridge itself.
It spent most of its time underwater, diving for food I assume. It looked like a member of the grebe family, was the size of a red-necked grebe, but had no white or light color evident on its head, neck, or back. Its underside was light. At first glance it looked completely black. It's eye was red, head was sleek, with a faint reddish black from the bill across the eye to the back of the head. The bill was 2/3 black, but a lighter color on the 1/3 closest to the face. The front of the neck was a brownish reddish color, lighter than the back of the neck but still a dark color. I'm stumped. I've looked through every book I have and searched through grebe photos online. Nothing seems to fit. It was too big for a horned grebe, but wrong coloration for a red-necked grebe. It was also not a duck, loon, or a cormorant. If anyone sees it tomorrow, please let me know what you think it is.
Thanks!
Dotty Calabrese
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