Red-necked Grebes Courting and an American Bittern! ~ April 20, 2024

Around noon, I went to the Nazareth Quarry to see if the 2 Red-necked Grebes that Adam Miller had found early this morning were still there. Thankfully, they were, but they were half way out near the quarry's north side. They slowly worked their way closer and closer until I was able to get some documentation photos. Not only was it great to see these very unusual migrants, they actually did a brief courtship display! They raised straight up, raised their head feathers, and starting calling to each other. I was lucky to get some mediocre photos of this, which I had never personally seen before.

Two Red-necked Grebes doing a courtship display.

Here are some other photos I got of the birds as they worked their way along the western end of the quarry.

Red-necked Grebes

In the mid-afternoon, I drove up to East Bangor Dam to see if I could find the American Bittern that others had found when checking for the Common Gallinules and Sora that I had found there yesterday. Soon after I got there, I heard one brief call from a Common Gallinule north of the railroad tracks. I slowly walked down the tracks, searching and listening for the bittern. About a half-hour later, Todd Watkins walked up and we continued checking out the area together. A little while later, one Sora made a short call right near us on the north side of the tracks. We kept watching that area of cattails, hoping that it would come into view. A few minutes later, the American Bittern called from behind us in the marsh on the south side of the tracks! Both the Sora and the bittern alternated calls, but there were fairly long periods between each one. Todd had to leave. I sat down on the edge of one of the railroad ties and waited to see if the bittern might walk into view. It called several more times during the next half-hour, allowing me to get one pretty good recording of it, but it never did show itself. Still, I was glad to get to hear its call that always reminds me of an old percolating coffee pot, but I guess I'm dating myself.

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