A couple of additional comments on this EAGR. I was huddled in the heated
restroom, trying to get my fingers to work when I sent the terse message
below. A lot of people have seen this bird, but there were also a number
trying today, so tried to get the word out.
Yesterday was pleasanter than today. Way pleasanter. But the view I got of
the EAGR Monday was into the sun at some distance. The accompanying photo
was horrible: when I zoomed in on the grebe, it looked exactly like that
famous 1934 photo of the Loch Ness Monster (seriously, long straight neck,
small head, high point over the eye ... I have a whole new theory on
Nessie).
So I had a 4 grebe day Monday: Horned, Pied-billed, Eared, and Renee. But
pretty weak substantiation. So back to running all over the Marina and Dyke
Marsh again this morning.
I have not actually seen the EAGR fly more than 4 feet, but it seems to
disappear from one spot and reappear elsewhere pretty suddenly. My best
guess from talking to people and correlating reports is that it is ranging
from just north of the boat ramp down to the island you see looking north
from the viewing platform at the end of Haul Road and the boardwalk. Today
we (I was with Pat, a teacher whose last name I did not catch) saw several
grebes down by that island. One was definitely a HOGR and one I suspect was
the EAGR, which simply disappeared while we were watching (went down, never
came up). By the time I hiked back up to the Marina, it was as reported
below, sheltering somewhat in the lee of the south most docked boats, about
30' from the shore.
Happy shoveling.
Russ Taylor
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Russell Taylor <gnatcatcher@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, Jan 21, 2014 at 11:21 AM
Subject: Belle. Haven Grebe
To: VA Bird <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
At 11:15am, the Eared Grebe is among the boats moored to the docks at the
south end of the marina. Conditions are becoming quite unpleasant.
Cheers,
Russ