Western Grebe in Reston

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The Western Grebe, first reported on Friday, was still at Lake Thoreau in
Reston, Va. today, Sunday May 24 at about 2:00pm.  It was readily seen from
the lake access area of the South Lakes Shopping Center, on South Lakes Road.
South Lakes Road is reached via Sunrise Valley Road, midway between Wiehle and
Hunter Mill Rds, and south of the Dulles Toll Road which it parallels.

I observed the bird for about 15 minutes--it seemed alert, occasionally moving
it's head from side to side and covering some distance on the surface of the
water, but it never dove.  The plummage seemed ok, but a little ruffled on the
rear of the bird.

Is any consensus forming as to whether this is a true vagrant or an illegal
escapee?

Ralph Wall
Great Falls, Va.  

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