Eared Grebe at Sheridan Park Bluff 10/16/22

Jeremy4 Comments

An Eared Grebe was spotted along the shore of Lake Michigan, just below the bluff of Sheridan Park on Sunday 10/16. It was staying very close to the shoreline and sometimes hard to see from above. I decided to walk down the service road to the shoreline. I walked north from there about 100 yards, and it was swimming and diving between two of the jetties. I sat down on the rocky beach area and watched it for about 15 minutes. It was actively diving the entire time. After several dives, it popped up fairly close to me, stared me down and dove again. Every time it would go down and come up, then look at me and continue about its business. This bird appears to be a hatch year and in a plumage I have not seen before. I’m glad that it was reported and stuck around for the day. Enjoy!

Red-necked Grebe in Milwaukee

JeremyAdd comment

There has been a Red-necked Grebe in the Milwaukee Harbor the last couple days. It has been seen north, near Lakeshore State Park and south into the river mouth. Today I spent a few hours starting at sunrise and never saw it. Right away, a tug boat went down the river, which didn’t help. There were a couple hundred mergansers, that all took flight and scattered. It’s possible that it was in or near that group early on. Then it was reported near the lighthouse around 11am, go figure. I went back down there and it was starting to head up the river mouth, by the time I arrived. I watched it for about 45 minutes and it was moving slowly west. When I left, it was around the first bend, heading south towards Jones Island. The one that came through in January of ’20 was in winter plumage, but this one is near breeding plumage. It is a very pretty bird! Pictures below are from the late morning. Enjoy!