If you're a birder, you'll know what a life list is. It's basically a list of all the bird species one has observed and positively ID'd in one's lifetime. This blog is a record of my "critter" life list (mostly of birds), including photos I've taken over the years, some of the actual lifer if I was lucky enough to get the shot. Don't expect National Geographic quality stuff here, just the work of an amateur photog who loves to trudge out into nature.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)


1/14/06 Oso Flaco Lake, Oceano, San Luis Obispo County, CA (Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival Event#35)

8/16/03 Mother with young'uns. Oroville State Wildlife Area, Butte County, CA

1/15/05 Near Morro Rock, Morro Bay San Luis Obispo County (Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival event with docent Rosemary Olszewski).

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Pied-Billed Grebe

SPECIES: Podilymbus podiceps

FAMILY: Podicipedidae (Grebes)

LIFE LIST DATE3/16/2002

LOCATION: Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds-Western Region & Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of North America:

HABITAT/BEHAVIOR: On ponds and lakes everywhere except far north, this little diver is common, but not seen in flocks. Sometimes swims, submarine-style, with only its head above water. 

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 12"; a small, stocky brown grebe with a short stout bill. Summer: Obvious black ring around white bill; chin is black. Winter: Bill has a faint ring or no ring, and chin is light.

VOICE: During breeding, calls include a cow cow cow cow cow, a loud kek kek in alarm, and a softer cuk cuk cuk. It is generally quiet in winter. 

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