Grebe Hatched at Sam Smith Park

[Brian Bailey]

Walking through Sam Smith Park this evening, I spotted a very young chick on the back of the adult Red-necked Grebe on the nest raft closest to the docks (the site of last year's successful nest).  Birds appear to be incubating eggs on the other two nests, but I didn't see any sign of young there.  There is now a nest started on a fourth raft, in the mouth of the harbour.

Note that the chick is still very small and able to completely disappear into the adult's feathers.  The head only popped out when the other adult arrived with food.

Also of note, a first year male Orchard Oriole, singing, on the west side of the stormwater management pond, west of the yacht club.  I found the same bird (I assume) in exactly the same place a week ago.  Both times he has been right by the garbage containers.

BB

[MEGHAN]

Awesome news about the Grebes Brian..thanks for posting this.

Meghan

[Irene]

I was there today and didn't see the baby, the adult was still sitting on the raft and the male seemed to be swimming around gathering food?
the next two rafts had grebes still sitting and the fourth raft was empty, no eggs and no greenery, not sure if they were still building or not.

maybe the baby will show up for the bird walk this Saturday.

[Brian Bailey]

I expect it will take some luck and/or patience for the first few days.  I saw no indication of a chick the first time I went by the nest.  As I was approaching the nest on my way home, I noticed an adult carrying a tiny fish.  I waited and watched until I saw a little head pop out.  

BB

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[Irene]

That is so awesome Brian, that's another successful year, with four platforms I can't see how they can go wrong
I hope they are all successful.
I will keep my eyes open and if I do manage some pictures will post them.

[MEGHAN]

I was there this morning from 6:30-8:30.
The little one took 8 tiny  fish in the time I was there, but like Brian said, it remains totally hidden in the adults feathers untill food is brought.
Cute little clown face though.

Meghan

[Brian Bailey]

We had good looks at the chick this morning at the CCFEW bird walk.  It's pretty mobile and larger than I expected.  It swam briefly on its own and rode around on the back of the back of the non-incubating adult for a while.  It can also still disappear under the adult's wing for long periods.

The other notable breeders were a pair of Orchard Orioles.  The first year male I've noticed in the last 10 days may not have his adult plumage, but he's all grown up in other ways!  :wink: He's watching over a female on a nest in a very spindly little oak tree.

We also got a very brief look at a cuckoo, probably black-billed.

BB

[Brian Bailey]

Sunday Update :

There are now 2 chicks and 3 more eggs on the first nest.  The next nest over now has a chick as well, I didn't get a look at their eggs.  They're still incubating on the third nest, with no sign of a chick.  The fourth nest is well built, but has no eggs.  

BB

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[Molebird]

Thank you Brian.  After chatting with you on Saturday we went to see the orchard orioles and did get a good long look at the 1st year male.  We also saw a bobolink - only our second sighting in two years.  Very exciting about the grebes.

[Brian Bailey]

June 20th Update:
Visiting this evening, I initially saw only one chick on the first nest, but both adults appeared to be carrying. Later saw the second chick briefly (both on the same adult). First chick is growing fast. The head has already become much more angular and the supraloral patch is now bright red.

One chick and at least two eggs on nest number two. Watched these parents try to feed an impossibly large fish to the chick. It swam while trying to get the fish down.

Nest three: still incubating with no sign of a chick.

They appear to be incubating on nest number four but I didn't see any eggs.

Fifth pair still hanging around.