Remsen, J.V. 1978 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula Jan. 2 La Jolla Merritt, Alameda Co., Calif: 1 ♂ at eastern end of lajla where it has been for 2+ months. Tuft is much less prominent now than when I saw the bird in late October Jan.3 LaJolla Merritt: 1 ♂ (same bird) Feb.8 Point Reyes, Marin Co., Calif: 1 imm. ♂ in freshwater pond next to road just S. of parking lot. In addition to a very small tuft, the entire bill tip was black and the back was a very uniform blackish-brown, probably darker than most scaup. [this combination eliminating scaup]. The head was more or less scaup-shaped [eliminating Ring-necked Duck]. The bird was thought to be an imm. ♂ due to the presence of some patches of white feathers along flanks. iris pale (looked gold) bill blue-gray with solid black tip short tuft (no triangular nail) <trace of sketch made during observation> sides varying shades of brown - some areas looked nearly pure white, especially towards rear. The bird was studied for 15 minutes with a scope, but high winds made precise accuracy of details hard to note. The bird looked about the same size as a nearby Lesser Scaup, although this bird's bill looked proportionately larger. This is almost certainly the same bird found here early in January by Rich Stallcup and at that time showed no traces of male plumage.