Russell Rogers, in the latest west-side RBA, reported:

>An albino "mystery bird", probably a species of Grebe, has been hanging
>out at the Winslow ferry terminal on Bainbridge Island. If you care to
>take a gander at identifying this bird, please let us know what your
>opinion is.

Thank Goodness!! I, too, have seen this bird, and at the time I was
scratching my head and wondering if my eyeballs were on the blink. I saw it
on Saturday, 28 October, on the 9:25 am sailing of the ferry _Spokane_ from
Winslow, on my way to the book fair in Seattle. It was just outside (east)
of Eagle Harbour, with two Red-necked Grebes. My rattled brain was just
discarding "Pekin duck" when the first RNGR dived. The albino dove
immediately afterward, and finally the third "typical" RNGR. The albino was
all-white, with a yellow bill. As I mulled over what I'd seen, I decided it
must have been another RNGR, based on its close association with them, its
behavior, and its being the same size.

I'm relieved to hear that others have also seen this bird, and will be
interested in hearing any other "opinions." At the Pacific Seabird Group
meeting in Victoria this last week, I asked a couple other biologists if
they'd ever seen or heard of such a bird, and all I got were blank looks.

Thank you for easing my aging brain, and I look forward to other reports.

-- Janet Hardin
(with apologies to domestic waterfowl)
Port Townsend, WA
wings at olympus.net