[obol] New Quiz and Eared Grebes, Multnomah County 02/03/08

[Chris Warren]

I just posted the new quiz and the answers to the last quiz.  I made a
mistake last night with the link to the quiz.  I put the link of the page
where I have all the quizzes posted and for some reason quiz #2 (American
Coot) shows up as the large photo.  I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to mislead
anyone.  Here is the link to the new quiz bird (the only picture on the
page.) http://tinyurl.com/yt3dh8 (This is an address routed through
tinyurl.com that doesn't have an "at" symbol.  I hope this helps alleviate
confusion.  Thanks Beaverton birders!)  I may move the quiz permanently to a
link that does not have an "at" symbol in it soon.  Sorry for the confusion.

In other news, I just returned from a quick look at the Columbia along
Marine Drive in Portland.  Overall, the weather was not pleasant and the
birds were spread out.  However, there was a pair of EARED GREBES at
Broughton Beach, right across from the airport.  I studied them for a little
while because I also saw several Horned in the area and both species are
just starting to transition making the ID hairier.  However, both Eareds
retained a good deal of their basic plumage as well as the structural
features that distinguished these from Horned.  There also was a fully
alternate plumaged Common Loon at Hayden island.

I also have posted a few pictures of a pair of gulls at Broughton Beach.
One appears to be a "full" Western Gull and the other a hybrid.  What are
people's thoughts?  It seems that an ID of Western Gull this far up the
river deserves a serious look. http://tinyurl.com/2fzzd5

Chris Warren
Portland, OR