Yesterday I looked for the Eared Grebe found in the morning by Mikey and seen into the afternoon by others, but it disappeared sometime in mid-afternoon yesterday, and was no where around while I was there.  I wondered if it left for good but wanted to try again anyway so I got there early today.  I saw Chris Ordiway again too.  We are both really glad we tried this morning - it was present when I arrived at 7, and still there when we left at 7:30!

There was a noticeable turnover of birds, with less waterfowl this morning at both Wharf Rd and Accokeek Creek (I learned this location's name today).  Wharf Rd still had an impressive # of Ruddies (~300) plus a few Bufflehead, Ring-necks, Hooded Mergs, and Lesser Scaup (not there yesterday).  Accokeek Creek had far less waterfowl, although a few more geese were present today.  There were only 2 grebes present this morning (the other was a P-billed), and the first time I looked at it, I thought the Eared Grebe was the Horned Grebe we saw yesterday.  I kept looking at it, because I wasn't convinced it was a Horned Grebe, and joked to Chris that I was trying to make it into an Eared.  Then I realized it was the Eared Grebe!  I discussed with Chris how it was Eared and not Horned, which took a little while looking with the scope, since the bird was feeding actively.  Finally the bird sat still for a couple minutes and allowed an extended view so we could see its marks clearly.  The Horned we saw yesterday was more white in the cheeks and solid white in the neck, but other than that had a similar profile given the view we had to work with.  A scope was necessary for a positive id, even though the bird was not very far (~ 300-400 feet).  The bump on the Eared's head could be seen with with a scope, as well as its throat color (smudgy - but not very dirty, only a very light gray) instead of white, and its flanks were raised enough to see this mark too, but not to a great extent.

A great County bird - Cheers!

Jeff Shenot
Croom MD