Bird Identification Please

[Jim Jensen]

I took this picture back in June while shore fishing in Maple Grove. I looked it up in my National Geograpic bird book and I think it is a Western Grebe. It never came close enough for me to get a good picture and it was overcast that day. You can't see it in this picture but it does have red eyes. I meant to go back to try to get a better picture but never got back. According to my bird but we don't have these in this part of Minnesota. Anyone else ever see these birds where they don't belong?

[pushbutton]

looks like one to me. seen then frequently on osakis the last 5 years or so, ironically did not see them this year. civilized foul, routinely have witness them swim up to a slip bobber, submerge, and pick clean the bait. always liked seeing them, knew there were baitfish nearby.

[BlueLundFishrman]

yeah it's a grebe

[Steve Foss]

Western grebe is right.

[MN Shutterbug]

It looks very muh like the Western Grebe I saw by Waubay, SD in the spring. The main difference is, I was shooting on a clear day. It was also my first sighting of one. Next spring, I'm going to make an attempt to get there earlier in the year, so I can try and catch them doing their mating dance. I understand they are fairly common in that area.

[Jim Jensen]

Now that is the type of picture I wanted to get. I should have went back on a day with more sun. Oh well maybe he/she liked my neck of the woods and will return next spring.

Thanks for the identification info. For me there is nothing better than seeing a bird I have never seen before and having my camera hanging around my neck. I have learned a not so good picture is better than no picture.

[Jim Almquist]

I have learned a not so good picture is better that no picture.

That is so true when trying to make a ID on a bird that you are seeing for the first time and it gets even worse when you are trying to pick out one in a flock that has a minor difference then the rest of the flock.