ML182171531

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

While scoping the lake from the turnout near the dam, this bird came into my view. I initially thought it was a juvenile gull, until the bird banked and the pointed tip of the tail came into the view, along with the somewhat long and narrow wings. The bird was mid-lake at this point, closer to the boat launch. I watched it harass the grebes on the water, sometimes briefly alighting on the lake. The bird then flew closer to my location, where it decided to land on the water for around 5 minutes close to the opposite shore. While on the water I noticed it was a bit smaller than the nearby Western Grebes(see photo). It was uniformly dark brown above, both on the back and wings. The tail was wedge shaped with a pointy tip sticking out a few inches. The bird had a dark cap and a dark bill. The neck was tan colored, lighter than the back, as were the flanks. In flight the belly appeared to be the same tan color, and a partial dark brown ring went across the chest between the shoulders. See photos, which are not the best due to distance and the heat of the afternoon.

Technical information

Model

DSC-HX400V

Lens

4.3-215.0 mm f/2.8-6.3

ISO

100

Focal length

215 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

5184 pixels x 3888 pixels

Original file size

1.62 MB