Erased!

     Yesterday while I was out cutting cedars, what else?, there was multi-bird serenade. Turning on the Merlin app, what else?, over twenty species were recorded. Many of the usual suspects; Bobolink, Grackle, Pheasant, Red-Wing and Yellow Headed blackbirds, Marsh Wren, Etc. Another one, very common in my experience, but one I'd never heard...a Pie Bill Grebe, a water bird.

    While standing in the grass recording, water behind a dam was not far away. In my youth we called Grebe's 'Hell Divers'. Swimming in the water a few yards away if anything alarmed them they'd dive and re-surface a long way away. In fact they were so elusive that attempts to shoot them was futile. So quick they'd be under water and away before shot reached them. (I know, shooting at them wasn't good and was even illegal.)  Recording one was a revelation to me. 

   Unfortunately I neglected to save the recording. Attempting to replay it back at the house and it was not retrievable. Perhaps I can re-record it later.

Takk for alt,

Al

 

The Pied-billed Grebe is the most widespread grebe in the New World, and the most familiar in most temperate parts of North America. Far less sociable than most grebes, almost never in flocks, sometimes found singly on small marshy ponds. When disturbed or suspicious, it may sink slowly until only head is above water. Rarely seen in flight. Often secretive in the breeding season, hiding in marsh, making bizarre whinnying, gobbling, cooing noises by day or night.