Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) |
Below are a few photos I took on the morning of November 9, 2003, at the Shawnee Mission Park lake, under mostly overcast skies. This is apparently the first record of Red-necked Grebe (RNGR) in Johnson County. The bird was still present on the afternoon of November 11. Image #1: RNGR (right) with Horned Grebe. The RNGR was obviously larger than the Horned, but this photo exaggerates the difference, perhaps because the Horned is partly submerged and/or hidden behind a wave.  Image #2: RNGR preening. Note the facial striping typical of juvenal plumage. I initially thought the bird's neck was too reddish for a juvenile, but Sibley (The Sibley Guide to Birds, 1st ed., 2000, p. 26) depicts a bird with almost this much red.  Image #3: Closer view of RNGR preening, rolled over on its side so that most of its belly is exposed.  Image #4: RNGR preparing to dive.  Image #5: RNGR (right) with female Ruddy Duck.  Image #6: Close-up of RNGR. |
Copyright © 2003 David Seibel – posted November 9, 2003; updated November 11, 2003