Having thoroughly enjoyed a short backpacking trip 2 weeks ago at Lake Sonoma, my husband and I decided to head back out there last weekend to catch the full moon. At about 6:30am on May 6, I heard a loon wail ("hoooo-lii") and immediately thought "Hey, that sounded like a loon", which is interesting because I'm not sure I've ever heard a loon in the wild - I must have learned it from the movies! I dismissed it as a coyote, but soon after a Common Loon in breeding plumage floated into view. What a beautiful bird, especially on the misty lake. I had my spotting scope with me, so I was able to see it really well - the black bill and head, red eye, white-and-black checkered back, white chest, and wedge-shaped white collar.

The loon was hanging around Old Sawmill Camp, which is on the upper portion of the Warm Springs Arm of Lake Sonoma. It was still in the area around 1pm.