Hi all,
We had one Hoary-headed Gb this afternoon - right in front of the viewing platform.
Along with Grey Plover and Whiskered Tern, new birds for a Wrybill Birding Tours 21-day tour.
cheers
Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater
- sav
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe reported at Elterwater
I can confirm that there are three Hoary-headed Grebes. Two birds just went past the platform while a third bird was in the southwestern corner.
EDIT: In addition, there was one NZ Dabchick and two juvenile grebes.
EDIT: In addition, there was one NZ Dabchick and two juvenile grebes.
Last edited by Matthias on Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe reported at Elterwater
Here are some photos from Saturday.
Two of the three Hoary-headed Grebes
Hoary-headed Grebe and NZ Dabchick
NZ Dabchick
Two of the three Hoary-headed Grebes
Hoary-headed Grebe and NZ Dabchick
NZ Dabchick
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater
On Saturday there were also two juvenile grebes on Lake Elterwater but as I was not familiar with the juvenile plumages of all species, I was not sure to which species they belonged. I finally had time to study the photos in more detail (see below). According to the descriptions of juvenile plumages in HANZAB and the drawings in HANZAB and the Australian Bird Guide, it seems that these are juveniles of Hoary-headed Grebe (based on plumage colours, and especially the dark iris and the pattern of the head markings).
Does anyone have experience with the differences in the plumages of the juveniles of Hoary-headed Grebe and New Zealand Dabchick and can either confirm this or correct me? Apparently, the plumages are discussed in more detail in Storer (1987) Emu 87: 150-157. Does anyone have a .pdf of this article?
Cheers,
Matthias
Does anyone have experience with the differences in the plumages of the juveniles of Hoary-headed Grebe and New Zealand Dabchick and can either confirm this or correct me? Apparently, the plumages are discussed in more detail in Storer (1987) Emu 87: 150-157. Does anyone have a .pdf of this article?
Cheers,
Matthias
- AlanShaw
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater
The juveniles certainly look different to the NZ Dabchick juveniles, photographed at Taylor Dam in 2016.
See post:- Re: Dabchicks breeding near Blenheim by Mtn Breeze, Sun,Jan.10th,2016.
See post:- Re: Dabchicks breeding near Blenheim by Mtn Breeze, Sun,Jan.10th,2016.
- GrahameNZ
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- Nick Allen
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater
There are some photos of juv Hoary-heads here https://ebird.org/media/newzealand/catalog?taxonCode=hohgre1&q=Hoary-headed%20Grebe%20-%20Poliocephalus%20poliocephalus
and NZ Dabchick here: https://ebird.org/media/newzealand/catalog?taxonCode=nezgre1&q=New%20Zealand%20Grebe%20-%20Poliocephalus%20rufopectus
Wonder how variable the head markings are and how they moult out to plainer plumage, and the same with beak pattern/colouration and how that changes with time.
It's a shame pretty much all of the volumes of the Emu are behind a paywall these days - who's going to pay US$50 for 24 hours' access to material 30 years old?
and NZ Dabchick here: https://ebird.org/media/newzealand/catalog?taxonCode=nezgre1&q=New%20Zealand%20Grebe%20-%20Poliocephalus%20rufopectus
Wonder how variable the head markings are and how they moult out to plainer plumage, and the same with beak pattern/colouration and how that changes with time.
It's a shame pretty much all of the volumes of the Emu are behind a paywall these days - who's going to pay US$50 for 24 hours' access to material 30 years old?
- Neil Robertson
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater
Two Hoary-headed Grebes at Lake Elterwater this afternoon, seen from the platform. Also 4 Great-crested Grebes and 24 Royal Spoonbills present.
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater
One Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater just out from the platform around 1 pm. today (Feb. 14). Also one Great Crested Grebe seen toward the southern end of the lake.
- Amber Calman
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Re: Jan 12--Hoary-headed Grebe at Elterwater
Checked out the lake yesterday, another birder was there who had a scope, I only had my telephoto lens. Saw at least two of the hoary headed grebes, I think three. Also one Greater Crested Grebe. My photos of the Hoary grebes are terrible, but I will attach a photo of the two chicks I saw with an adult. I wasn't aware they were chicks til I reviewed the photo at home.