It was only recently that I became aware of these birds beyond the Pied-billed Grebe which I had regularly seen at Franklin Lake. Early in 2013 I encountered my first loon up-close and it has so far turned out to be my only encounter witha Red-throated Loon. The early part of 2014 was replete with Horned Grebes, Red-Necked Grebes and Common Loons. The grebes were at the Belmar Marina while the loons were there and in the ocean.