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, November 8, 2015

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)

3/16/02 Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, Orange County, CA 
11/24/02 Marina at Silverwood Lake Recreation Area, San Bernardino County, CA
7/5/05 Eagle Lake, Lassen County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Western Grebe

SPECIES: Aechmophorus occidentalis

FAMILY: Podicipedidae (Grebes)

LIFE LIST DATE: 3/16/2002

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

From Kaufman Focus Guide-Birds of North America:

HABITAT/BEHAVIOR: This graceful swimmer is common on many freshwater marshes in the west, also on coastal byways in winter. Many grebes have courtship dances, but Western and Clark's perform spectacular splashy race across water, with loud calls. 

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 25"; Slender, long-necked, long-billed, sharply black and white [black cap extend below eye, greenish-yellow bill]

VOICE: Reedy, grating krrrik krrrikk, sharply two-noted.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)