A thousand apologies! This was April not March.
At 7:50 pm Monday, April 4, this grebe was swimming and diving on the
far side of the pond from the lookout on the knoll where I stood in the
Rattray Marsh Conservation Area. It had a fan of yellow feathers behind
the eye with black head showing above, behind and below the fan. The
eye was red, the neck was very dark, as was most of the bird. Although
the light was dimming and the bird was not in the sun, the sun was
shining on the cattails a bit further over. The entire Toronto skyline
was ignited (gorgeous!), so there was still warm light to highlight any
yellow or red colour. I did not see a hint of reddish on the neck or
body. I saw no high central crest on the head. It was high more toward
the back of the head similar to the picture of the breeding bird eared
grebe in the water in the Nat Geo Birds of N. Am. or for that matter
like the horned grebe above it, if you ignore the yellow feathers. I
did not see yellow feathers in the configuration of the horned grebe in
that picture. The yellow feathers were on the face not at the top or
back of the head. A couple times I saw what appeared to be 2 bumps at
the top back of the head as one might think a horned bird might have but
I don't know if they do or if the name comes strictly from the yellow
feathers. Just before I left, a pied bill popped up but dove before I
had a chance to ID the attached bird. So, there may have been more than
one grebe. Or perhaps it had something in or on it's bill. Sorry for
the late post and incorrect date.
Rattray Marsh Cons. Area is on Lake Ontario between Mississauga Rd and
Southdown Rd, south of Lakeshore Rd at the foot of Bexhill Rd. Follow
Bexhill down into the CA and continue straight onto the trail around the
knoll to the lookout. Or walk along the Waterfront Trail toward Toronto
and out to the beach and walk back to the outlet of Sheridan Creek where
you will be opposite the knoll lookout.
Kirsten Burling
Mississauga
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