Whatbird.com

Just back from a week on Deer Isle, Maine.  Rented a house on the shore of a small protected cove.  One morning I watched what looked for all the world like a Western Grebe paddle peacefully from one side of the cove to the other.  Had lots of time and good view through my binoculars for observation.  The bird was marked just like the Western Grebe, which differs from any Loon or local Grebe I could find.  Long way off base if it was a WG...  anyone have any other ideas?  Didn't have a lens long enough to get a photo. 

Western Grebes have a well established pattern of vagrancy into the Great Lakes area and to the east coast.  Most of the records tend to be in the fall and winter but there are some in spring and summer too.  It is a pretty distinctive bird with its long neck and black and white markings, and there isn't really anything close except Clark's Grebe which is super rare in the east.  So it's possible you had one.  You might want to get in touch with the Maine Audubon society and tell them about it - it's probably an important enough rarity there in the summer that somebody close might want to check it out and get it documented.

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Randy

Thanks, Randy...   I did just that.  Wrote to the Ellsworth, ME society to see what they had to offer on the matter.  Ellsworth is the nearest chapter to where I saw the bird, and not very far at that.  Hope they have a confirmation.  I must admit a loyality to the range maps in my field guides which is often not justified.  It's something I need to recognize as a 'usual' but not 'always' guide.  When I searched "Western Grebe Maine"  I found several references, some sightings confirmed by photography, of Western and Clark's Grebes in that area.  I'd bet my bird was a Western...  black cut right through or just below the eye, and a neck that seemed equal parts black and white.  I also observed some activity on the bird's back, which I described to the Ellsworth Audubon Society:    Although I could never get a good look at what caused it, occasionally there was some activity on the birds back, near the tail.  I never saw anything that looked like a chick, but several times I saw what looked like a single feather or perhaps two, push out and up off the stern of the bird, out over the tail and sort of wave in the air, then return to it's place leaving no ruffled area and no more movement in that area.  It looked almost like some one suddenly raising a flag on a pole above the crowd, wildly waving the pole with the flag on the end, then pulling it back down, pole and all.  Like a flag twirler in a marching band, if you will.  May seem like an odd description, but that's the impression it gave...  sudden appearance, pushing out and up from the bird, waving wildly, then disappearing from whence it came.  The calmly paddling bird never gave any sign that this activity even registered with it. 

You're welcome, and please let us know about the follow up with the Audubon society - they should appreciate your info.  I'll bet what you were seeing was a foot and leg.  Grebe's legs are set far back on their bodies.  I've seen them do something like this before.  I remember how weird it looked to me at the time before I finally figured it out.

I think paying attention to range maps is to be commended.  For one thing, it tells you when you need to be extra careful, as extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.  I really like what David Sibley does with his range maps, showing areas where the bird is rare.  I can help people to tell the difference between what may be a rare sighting and one that is perhaps unprecedented.  His online guide is here: http://sibley.enature.com/home.asp, but I would highly recommend the book version, too.

It sounds to me like your evidence is very strong for Western Grebe.  Congrats on a nice find!

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Randy