Young Aust Grebes & Hoary-headed Grebes. Rather alike...

[Martin Butterfield via Canberrabirds <>]

The number of Hoary-headed Grebes at the Mallacoota Wastewater Treatment Plant is way below normal (12 vs 100+) .  My understanding is that the same apples on the Gippsland Lakes.  Presumably they have all headed off to soggy bits of the Inland.  The same applies to Eurasian Coots, which totally disappeared from East Gippsland in about July.

Martin Butterfield

http://franmart.blogspot.com.au/

https://mallacootaweatherwildlife.blogspot.com/

On Sat, 8 Jan 2022 at 11:49, Kim Farley via Canberrabirds <> wrote:

Looking at Grebes today at Isabella Pond, I briefly identified a juvenile Aust Grebe as a Hoary-headed Grebe. The youngster was about the same size as its Aust Grebe parent - so not a tiny fluffy and stripey baby.  At first glance it looked like an adult Hoary-headed. But a closer look showed that the head didn't have the fine white streaks of a Hoary-headed.  And it didn't have the "big headed" look of an adult Hoary-headed. The other giveaway is that it is more usual to see Hoary-heads in groups rather than just the one. 

Can I ask eBirders to take extra care with their Hoary-headed Grebe records at present? Places where they are often readily seen (such as Isabella Pond or West Belconnen Pond) don't seem to have many or any at present. 

Kim

ACT eBird reviewer

 

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