[EBB Sightings] Long-tailed Duck off the Berkeley Pier

Birders:

This afternoon I had about three-quarters of an hour free, so I decided 
to see if last night's winds had deposited anything unusual near the 
Berkeley pier.  I found no alcids, and no unusual loons or scoters.  
But about 10 light standards out the pier I found a HY Long-tailed 
Duck, which I hesitate to try to sex.  The bird's bill was all dark, it 
had no elongated tail feathers, its scapulars were edged buffy (no 
white on the scaps), and the smudging on its head recalled the pattern 
of an adult male's head.  Nice bird, quite close to the pier.

Dave Quady
Berkeley, California
davequady at att.net