GrebeID-Western or Clarks? | Fraser Valley Birding

Wetlander
Member

Outside the Dykes, Agassiz

Posts: 1,662

GrebeID-Western or Clarks? Nov 16, 2008 14:03:20 GMT -8

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Post by Wetlander on Nov 16, 2008 14:03:20 GMT -8

Need some help IDing a Grebe along the Fraser outside the dyke past Humphrey Rd. in Agassiz.
Spotted this big boy while trolling for gulls. ;D Through my bins the bill looked more orange than yellow... but I don't know.

The Body seems like a Western... I could go either way on the amount of black on the head... HELP!

Last Edit: Nov 16, 2008 14:05:20 GMT -8 by Wetlander

Kevin Jones

ryjay
Member

Posts: 50

GrebeID-Western or Clarks? Nov 16, 2008 14:42:25 GMT -8

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Post by ryjay on Nov 16, 2008 14:42:25 GMT -8

Im fairly sure its a Western Grebe, if you look at this picture from the BC Birds Flicker site, it shows perfectly the Contrasing Bill Colour of a Western and Clark's Grebe. This Clarks stuck around for quite a while last winter, so I got to see this personally.
flickr.com/photos/32757391@N00/2165489996/

lastofthecurlews.blogspot.com

murraybrown
Member

Posts: 1,770

GrebeID-Western or Clarks? Nov 17, 2008 8:26:45 GMT -8

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Post by murraybrown on Nov 17, 2008 8:26:45 GMT -8

It's a Western Kevin, I've seen flocks of both species side by side in the reservoirs of southern California. The Clarks has noticably more white on the face and the bill is a bright yellow rather than the olive-yellow of the Western.
Nice sighting though.

Murray