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Post by Wetlander on Nov 18, 2009 14:42:34 GMT -8
Bird is the word... Got out at lunch today, cold but dry. Not nearly as many ducks about. A few dozen Buffleheads instead of hundreds... Out on the Lagoon, the Dipper came by almost immediately to say hi.  Spotted the snow bunting again, acting very secretive and skitish.  At the Gallery were 3 Varied Thrush, what a beautiful bird.  Out on the water, I spotted the Long-tailed Duck, but it looked different. My first sitings were of a fairly dark male, but this is a nice winter female.  A little grebe was close, and I thought it was one of the Horned Grebes, but again it looked different...   Dusky neck, rounded back, etc I'm thinking Eared Grebe. My experience with Eareds is in breeding colours, easy ID. But winter grebes can be tricky, and confirmation would be appreciated. |
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Post by Gord on Nov 18, 2009 16:34:11 GMT -8
Kevin, Id say that is an Eared Grebe! Good eye! Nice bird! Wow that lake gets good stuff.
Nice new Long-tailed Duck as well.
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Post by Dave on Nov 18, 2009 20:15:19 GMT -8
Nice work on both identifications, Kev!!
Thanks for sharing the pics.
Dave
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Post by Chris on Nov 18, 2009 21:48:21 GMT -8
Nice work on the species.
I love the picture of the Thrush. They are such a beautiful bird.
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Post by Wetlander on Nov 19, 2009 11:02:30 GMT -8
cheers everyone, spotted both the female long-tailed and the eared grebe again this morning.
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Post by murraybrown on Nov 20, 2009 15:03:10 GMT -8
Hi Kevin, I hate to be the odd man out, but I believe your grebe is a Horned. With the small grebes, the body profile is the key in identification. The way the body rests on the water with the back arching evenly to the waterline is classic Horned. Both these species go through a transitional colour change before they reach full winter plumage and so the darker than normal plumage can throw you off.
Another major difference is the way the head peaks behind the eye in your bird, quite unlike the peaked head above the eye, in Eared.
I agonized over deciding which was which until one winter 3 Eared Grebes wintered off the beach at White Rock among dozens of Horned's. Once I saw them side by side the differences were very obvious.
Murray
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Post by Dave on Nov 20, 2009 20:49:36 GMT -8
Interesting, Murray, I am studying every line that you have written. Great learning opportunity here! Most new for me was your comment "The way the body rests on the water with the back arching evenly to the waterline is classic Horned." Maybe I can see them side-by-side in winter plumage one day to help me out.
Thanks for your comments.
Dave
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Post by Wetlander on Nov 20, 2009 21:17:47 GMT -8
Ditto! re: Learning. Thanks for the input Murray. I'm happy to diffure to experience.
Looking at my Nat. Geo. guide, I can't figure out what you mean, the backs on Horneds seem so flat. But looking at the Sibley's I think I see. The hump on the back on an Eared seems a little more to the rear making it front heavy if you know what I mean? Slender going into the neck, not blocky like this one. Also the Nat. Geo. shows is an example of dark winter plumage on a Horned like you mentioned.
But of course nothing beats knowing the bird. Hopefully I'll get lots of opportunities to see them side by side as well.
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Post by Gord on Nov 20, 2009 22:27:44 GMT -8
Murray certainly has me thinking twice about that one as well!! Good comments.
Keep trying to see it again in the field as that is the best. Too bad the stinkers dive so much making it fun to get the scope on them for any length of time! Eared Grebe is out there. I for certain saw one last month and there was another report of them not too long ago.
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Post by Janne on Nov 20, 2009 23:26:16 GMT -8
Check out this Cornell Site for Horned versus Eared Grebes: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eared_Grebe/id If you open two windows in your browser, one for each bird you can look at the photos side by side. I agree with Murray Brown. The Grebes out on Harrison Lake recently are Horned. I was too busy the last few days to wade into the fray. Here is a c/p I did the other day when you boys started this discussion. It is describing how a Horned Grebe is different from a Eared. "Horned Grebe appears quite similar, especially in nonbreeding plumage, but shows clear border between black of crown and white of lower face rather than a more gradual transition between black and white. Front of neck is white, not gray. Rear end slopes to water instead of sticking up like that of Eared Grebe." Both "Horned" and "Eared" were linked to a sit in Word but don't look like they are now. I think the clear border between the crown and the lower face on the Horned are diagnostic for me. Janne Perrin Harrison Hot Springs |
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Post by Janne on Nov 20, 2009 23:35:46 GMT -8
My message is meant to read 'linked to a "site" in Word' (as in web site) not a "sit" in my Microsoft Word Program.
If you try the link (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eared_Grebe/id) you will see what I am trying to explain if you click "similar species" bookmark at the top of the page or scroll down to it.
Janne Perrin
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Post by Gord on Nov 21, 2009 0:00:41 GMT -8
Thanks Janne. I think I might lean towards Horned here now even though the bottom shot sort of shows more of a Eared body shape to me. The contrast between head and face seems to be gradual, but could be the distance the photo was taken from giving the appearance.
A good discussion!
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