Subject: Early Fall arrivals off coastal Seahurst Park, Sunday, 09-20-
Date: Sep 23 07:34:54 1999
From: Kraig,Eric - kraige at oclc.org


Maureen Ellis wrote:

> 5 RED-NECKED Grebes-could not discern plumage, but these are unexpected
> this early;

This seems to have been a "good year" for over-summering Red-necked Grebes.
Most years one sees the odd single bird in alternate plumage; this year I've
seen both singles and groups, the largest being a flock of six in Samish Bay
in July.

Since mid-August, I've seen increasing numbers of red-necks in the Nisqually
Reach, most in some intermediate stage of molt. Whether these are
over-summering birds or early migrants I can't say, although I'd guess the
latter.

Eric Kraig
Olympia, WA
mailto:kraige at oclc.org