I visited Liberty Lake very late this afternoon at the Oakland Road overlook. Birds seen:

Canada Goose  16
Hooded Merganser  3
Common Loon  1
Pied-billed Grebe  7
RED-NECKED GREBE  1
UNCERTAIN GREBES  2, see below
DC Cormorant  3
Ring-billed Gull  1
Kingfisher  1

The two uncertain grebes were seen first at great distance and separately; one far down the lake on the opposite side and one deep in a cove on the Baltimore County side north of the overlook. A boater flushed the first bird and it flew around before landing somewhat closer on the opposite side of the lake. In flight it appeared to be a big grebe with a slightly upturned bill profile and I at first thought it might be the Red-necked Grebe I had seen earlier. Later, as the sun set, it swam past Shag Island and I saw it near a cormorant. It was smaller than the cormorant but not by a great amount. Its plumage was high contrast black and white which ruled out it being the Red-necked. The head was black on top and the cheek was white, separated by a sharp demarcation near the eye. The neck was mostly white with a thin strip of black down the back of the neck. The white of the neck continued to the waterline. The body was dark. The bill appeared yellowish but in the diminishing light I was not sure. By fast swimming and short flights the two birds came together. I watched them swim side by side heading up the lake until it was almost too dark to see. They swam with heads erect and the long neck slanted toward the back.
   I concluded they were probably WESTERN GREBES but a better view is desired. I will go out there early tomorrow.
--
Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD