[obol] Newport RED-NECKED GREBE, ODD LOON: Where is Harry Nehls when you need him?

[Bill Clemons]

Sunday 7/01/07, my mother (Olive), Debby de Carlo and
I went for a drive to the coast.

More touring/Whale watching than birding But:

RED-NECKED GREBE: 
In Newport at the South Jetty near the first line of
rocks we saw a Brilliant breeding plumage RED-NECKED
GREBE leisurely feeding in the water near the road. 
We were only about 50 yards at most from the bird,
which made for Excellent scope views.  Having only
seen this species a few times before, I was quite
impressed.  What I noticed this time that I had either
forgotten or never noted before, were the "tuft-like
bumps" atop its head, which barely show in some
guides.  On this individual, they were So Prominent
that I came away thinking that this Showy aspect of
the GREBE'S plumage reminded me of the Pointy "Haired
Boss" in the Dilbert comic strip. A Very Impressive
bird indeed!

ODD LOON:
There was also a PUZZLING LOON (at least for us) that
looks like NONE in any of my guidebooks (Sibley, Nat
Geo, Peterson).  This LOON, I Assume is a first year
COMMON LOON, but its head and neck were NEARLY ALL
WHITE.   The bill is a light blue-grey.  It was very
actively preening (I assume it was oiling up its
feathers) bathing, and
standing-tall-in-the-water/stretching/wing-flapping. 
We never saw the bird dive for food. 
There is a small amount of brown from the base of the
bill and up onto the forehead and somewhat around the
eye.  From there to the base of the neck the LOON gave
the impression of being almost all white.  As usual at
times like this I usually look around for other
birders (none to be seen), and say out loud: "Where is
Harry Nehls when you need him?"  I googled images of
Common Loon juveniles and could not fine anything even
close.

Can anyone shed light?

Bill Clemons
SW of Portland in Mtn Park
Willclemons AT Yahoo dot com


      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/