Apologies to everyone for a hasty and incorrect identification on
the Red-necked Grebe I reported this morning from Campbell Flats.
George Clark and Ed Hack relocated the bird, confirming that I
jumped the gun. It was another Horned Grebe. They may graciously
try to protect my ornithological honor by not pointing out my
flagrant mis-ID on the listserv, but I hope they will report it here
so that everyone can learn. I offer no valid excuses, other than
that I was stumped by the transitional plumage, had a
less-than-ideal view through branches, and have never
claimed to be infallible as a field birder!
We all need a dose of humble pie every so often, and I'm grateful to
George and Ed for being such careful observers. In retrospect, I
should have waited until I could be 100% certain of the identity.
Part of the reason I posted it when I did was so that others could
find the bird and verify its identity.
Did I mention the Varied Thrush 375 yards away among the robin
hordes, hopping in and out of view behind tufts of grass, right
after I saw the grebe??
Chris
--
Chris Rimmer
Vermont Center for Ecostudies
P.O. Box 420
Norwich, VT 05055
802-649-1431 ext. 1
www.vtecostudies.org