Aechmophorus Grebes - Ross's Goose - prob. Ross's Goose hybrids - Houghton/Baraga

[Joe Kaplan]

As of Saturday the Western/Clark's Grebe is still in Torch Lake near Lake
Linden (Houghton Co.)as of Saturday -- view from the public access in
Hubbell (off 11th Street).  The bird is usually a substantial distance from
shore and though plumage is consistent with Western Grebe people hopeful for
ID down to species may be disappointed.

Also this from Joseph Youngman <ferrug at pasty.net> yesterday:

>
> I hadn't been looking at Keweenaw Bay [Baraga County] all week but this
> afternoon the Western Grebe was fairly close offshore hanging out with
> Rednecks and some scaup. It mostly snoozed in its unique posture but it held
> its head up a few times to make sure that it was indeed a western.   It was
> about a mile west of the red rocks [at the head of the bay this is the area
> you begin to descend as you are heading out of L'Anse towards Baraga].
>

Ross's Goose - an adult with a group of Snow Geese was still at and near the
Pilgrim River mouth yesterday (located a few miles southeast of Houghton off
Hwy 41).  The flock feeds in the fields surrounding the sewage treatment
plant which can be reached off the Peepstock Trail (go through the Pilgrim
River Terrace and cross the footbridge across a small pond.  The wastewater
treatment plant is straight ahead.  Alternatively, check the fields west of
the plant from the subdivision located off Sandpiper Drive as they are
sometimes visible from that location.

There are also three young geese that seem to be loosely associate with the
Ross's Goose and a Snow Goose -- I suspect these birds may be a family group
since the young show characteristics of Ross's and Snow -- mainly being
smaller than the Snow Geese, largely white above, and with smaller bills
with intermediate structure. I have sent some photos over to the UPBIRDERS
of the birds (including the adult) so you can judge for yourself.

Joe Kaplan

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