I spent two hours this morning walking the shore of the lake, counting the Western Grebes and talking to neighbors, asking if they had seen the ones from yesterday. I refrained from taking my canoe out so I could get closer. No sign of them today, but one of my neighbors was out on the lake yesterday in their pontoon boat and they told me that they also saw them. That makes two (much more knowledgeable birders than myself), who identified them as more than probable Red-Necked Grebes.
This is what we observed: Eight birds that looked and acted very much like Western Grebes, including diving whenever the boat got too close. They differed from the Western's in the following ways; 1. When they were swimming close to the Western Grebes, they appeared a little smaller, and appeared to have a slightly shorter neck. 2. Red breasts with the color going up into the neck, but not as high as shown in Kaufman's Field Guide. There was more white than red. Any ideas? Is there another Grebe-like bird out there that looks like our description? During breeding season, do Western Grebes get a red breast? On an up note, I was treated to the thrill of watching a pair of Western Grebes doing what appeared to be a courtship dance about 50 feet out from the eastern shore of the lake. What a show, and how I wish I had my video camera with me! Pauli Smith Highlandlake near Mead in Weld COunty --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Join us at the 2009 Convention in Alamosa: http://cfo-link.org/convention/index.php You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
