ML36517701

Age and sex

Adult, Unknown sex - X

Media notes

Pair of Red-necked Grebes seen during migration in late September on a northern Ontario lake, but just beginning their Fall/Winter plumage molt so still showing significant amount of breeding colour red on neck and black cap, with high contrast relative to the white cheek patch.

Observation details

Seen frequently diving and photographed in the SE corner of Echo Bay (from Echo Island) for a period of about 10 minutes. Body low in the water, with long gracefully curved neck, very different in appearance from ducks, loons, or cormorants. One is likely the same as observed the evening before, and appears that another joined it either later in the evening the day before or through the night or early morning. A Common Loon surfaced relatively close to the pair, which appeared to be the cause of the pair of Grebes to rapidly fly out of the bay. They were not seen again. As mentioned in yesterday's sighting report, in mid- to late October of 2013 and 2014, this species has been seen on Echo Bay before, so it appears this bay may be a regular migratory stopover point. As can be seen in the pictures, both appear to be just beginning their Fall molt, still showing significant amount of red on the neck and a good contrast with the white cheek patch. This is the first time I have seen this species not in full Fall/Winter plumage - normally when seen here before, the red has been fully replaced by grey, at a much lower degree of contrast with the white cheek patch.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D90

ISO

1600

Focal length

135 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/6.3

Shutter speed

1/640 sec

Dimensions

600 pixels x 399 pixels

Original file size

98.28 KB