Prompted by Jason's post, I went to Hains Pt. late in the day today
(Tuesday, 3/29, around 7pm) and was able to relocate the EARED GREBE. 
The bird was about halfway down the Washington Channel, hugging the
seawall of the point (so it could be easily missed because if you don't
get out of your car).  It's molting and looks pretty mixed up, but I
concur with the identification.  In particular, the pointed bill with
upturned lower mandible was the most striking feature and what tipped me
off.  It had a slight peak in mid-crown, though not as prominent as I've
seen in other Eared Grebes.  It was actively diving, which might explain
why that was the case.  The face was gray with a white patch behind and
below the eye (I guess it's the ends of the ear coverts.  The one field
mark that had me doubting the ID was the amount of brown/brownish gray
in the foreneck. Since this species is also know as the Black-necked
Grebe in Europe, I would have expected it to be either gray (in basic
plumage) or black (in alternate plumage) or somewhere in between. 
However, after scouring pictures on the web (see Tom Grey's site: 
http://www.pbase.com/tgrey/image/76654017/original), I see a number of
molting birds that show this feature, which allayed my concerns.

I didn't have my camera with me, but did have my cell phone.  I got a
few pictures through that, but they're not good enough to ID the bird.

Unfortunately, between all the people walking along the seawall and the
boats going up and down the Channel, the bird took and flew to the mouth
of the river.  I lost it as it headed past the point.  Hopefully it will
work it's way back in.

Good birding,
Paul Pisano
Arlington, VA

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