Todays waterfowl search in Howard County turned up a WESTERN GREBE, seen
from Triadelphia--Greenbridge. Note that this entrance is off New Hampshire
Ave in Montgomery County. The Western Grebe was seen with a Red-necked
Grebe. There are also Horned and Pied-billed Grebes present. The best view
was from the pipeline. It may also be possible to view it from
Triadelphia--Pigtail Green Bridge (two words in the Howard) Rd on the
Howard County side, but I did not try from here. The Western Grebe was only
seen in Howard County waters but got close to Montgomery County waters so
there is hope for you Montgomery listers. It has a large slightly upturned
yellow bill and not orange like a Clark's Grebe. The black on the side of
the face comes below the eye, a white lower cheek, all white on the front
of the neck, black on the top of the head which narrows to neat black down
the back of the neck, and mostly dark at the water line. I was lucky to
find Russ Ruffing when I reloacted it and Russ was able to get good looks
at 60X. I believe the bird is still there, as I saw it swim into a small
cove. There are boaters on the reservoir but they seemed to have little
effect on it. Several of us are going to try to relocate it tomorrow
morning. I expect that there could be a crowd so I suggest that some of you
wear wateproof boots, so you could stand in the water and probably have a
better vantage point. The last Western Grebe in the county was in 1960.

The Snow Bunting was still present at Lake Elkhorn and the American
Golden-Plover was still present at Fulton Pond. There were two birders
trespassing on the Turkey Farm at 4:25 p.m. this afternoon. Please do not
enter the farm grounds.

-- 
Joe Hanfman
Columbia, MD

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