This evening there was a basic plumaged EARED GREBE swimming out near the red lighthouse jetty visible from Stewart Park. The most noticeable thing about the bird was its very steep forehead and distinctly triangular head shape, with the peak just above and perhaps slightly in front of the eye. The black on the crown extended downwards below and behind the eye, wrapping around diffusely to the back of the neck. Its back and flanks were black, with little contrast. The bill seemed rather short and thin, but it was bit too far away to notice any other details. It was swimming near a Pied-billed Grebe at one point but later drifted away on its own towards the pilings. I was able to take some video using my phone through the scope, which I will post to my flickr page tomorrow if it reveals anything useful. Hopefully the bird will stick around overnight. This was my first Eared Grebe for Tompkins County so I imagine it would be a new county bird for many others as well.
Good birding -- Tim Lenz t...@cornell.edu Web Applications Developer Cornell Lab of Ornithology -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
