[birdky] Rare Bird Alert: Eared Grebe

Hello,
I just wanted to let everyone know about a definitively identified eared grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) that is still today (March 21, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM) at the Woodbridge Apartments small lake off of Ormsby Station Rd, which is off of New LaGrange Rd. This tiny energetic fast swimming and diving inquisitive bird has been here since at least evening of Saturday, March 17th.
This eared grebe was observed at dusk today playfully dunking goose feathers in water repeatedly. Much later this evening, the bird tried unsuccessfully to swallow a blue gill fish that was too big for its crop. This bird is not shy and stays in the lake, so it should be easy to identify if you can catch it long enough on the surface. On average, it stay under water at least 16 seconds, and resurfaces at different locations. Plumage is a mix of winter plumage (at front neck, behind ear hole, and white lower side feathers) and breeding adult plumage (brown/golden feathers covering ear hole, and brown lower side feathers). The bird has a dark gray beak that differentiates it from Western and Clark's grebes, and bright crimson red eyes that distinguishes it from red-necked grebe. Golden brown feathers covering ear hole are great field marks, too. According to my National Geographic Field Guide, it is "rare in Eastern North America," and its present location may be just a tiny bit north of "its irregular or irruptive range in some winters" (dotted blue lines on map).
If you do decide to check out this eared grebe, beware of a particularly aggressive Canadian goose with possible partial albinism (at front of head in between beak and eyes, and also lighter than normal feathers on neck), and its normal Canadian goose partner. I have never seen a Canadian goose before with such markings. Could this bird be a hybrid of wild and domesticated Canadian goose? It is rather overweight, so I think this is at least a possibility. 

Take Care,

Christina Wiegand

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