Hello all, Just returned from the Big Stone NWR area. On the way home, three of us swung by Lake Thielke just north of Ortonville. On the south side of the lake, about 75 yards off shore, were a western grebe and an apparent Clark's grebe together, each sporting one chick on their backs with three other chicks swimming with the parents. The Clark's parent may be a hybrid, as there is no distinct white line above the eye. The bill is typical Clark's -- orange-yellow and slightly upturned. I have a photo that I will submit to "Recently Seen" and I will also take a copy of the photo to a faculty member here at NDSU who is an expert on these two species, and who was instrumental in splitting the two species, to get his opinion on identification.
To get there: take US75 north from Ortonville and turn east on CR62. CR62 will curve slightly around the south shore of the lake. Look for the birds here. Good Birding! Pat Patrick Beauzay Department of Entomology 217 Hultz Hall, Bolley Drive North Dakota State University Fargo, ND 58105 701-231-9491 [email protected] http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/ http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/beauzay/tigerbeetles/index.htm http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/beauzay/Mounting_Chalcidoidea/Chalcmount.htm
