Eared Grebe - MCV Pond, Midland County - per Monica Essenmacher

[Joe Soehnel]

I received the following email from Monica Essenmacher related to two Eared Grebes that she saw at the MCV Pond, Midland County.  The Dow Pond and/or MCV Pond does have historical records of this species.  
 
Good birding,
 
Joe Soehnel
http://www.saginawbaybirding.org
 



Sat 12 Apr
 
MCV Ponds
 
Ruddy Duck          -50+
Greater Scaup     - 20+
Canvasback        - 20+
Horned Grebe     -4    AND -- drumroll, please....
Eared Grebe      -2
 
Details: Eared Grebe
 
Viewed for 45min at about 50 yards with binoculars and scope; location; MCV pond next to the MCV road off Poseyville Road.
 
Used my Sibley guide and the horned grebes that allowed me direct comparisons.
I stayed until I had checked and re-checked all field marks:
 
This is the relative order in which I noted field marks--
Caught sight of "fluffy" ears with binoculars;
took out scope,consulted Sibley for other marks;
found horned grebes thru scope, thought I'd imagined the fluff, but no...!
Noted placement of peak on head in comparison to the horned, noted skinnier neck, dark back, and, when one of the two obliged me by swimming nearly to the edge of the pond, was able to get a good look at the little upturned bill and note the black neck.  I also got a great head-on view of the bird as it fluffed out its head feathers, making it look like what Lucy calls Charlie Brown-- "football head"-- big head on skinny little neck!
 
I'm really really happy that these birds and their cousins were so cooperative! 
Just a note-- if someone might be going to look for it, MCV security is almost guaranteed to stop to check them out.  Some weeks ago, I was able to get "clearance" to be on the road by telling them I was doing a bird survey for saginaw bay birding.org and having them record my driver's license and car #'s.



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