Red-necked grebes are not an uncommon bird in the mid-Atlantic in the winter, in small numbers. This year, however, they have recently appeared in numerous places in unusually large numbers. The open areas at Riley's Lock (mile 22.7 on the C&O Canal), where Seneca Creek comes into the Potomac River has been especially fruitful for seeing these lovely birds, some now in Spring breeding plumage. More than twenty Red-necked grebes have been counted there on a number of occasions in the past ten days. One day, we had nineteen in view at the same time, with two or three more up the creek and at least ten more in the scope across the river. Truly astounding.
Here are some images of breeding plumage Red-necked grebes taken at Riley's/Seneca in the first two weeks of March.
While the grebes are quite stunning in their own right, it is especially fun to see them fishing and interacting with the prey they catch. Here's a couple of grebes in a squabble over a fish one has just caught.
And a different grebe, with a mouthful.
More competition . . . . and a squabbles.
Also, peaceful co-existence . . .
In addition to the wonderful grebe show, the confluence Seneca Creek and the Potomac River has been fruitful for large numbers of assorted species of ducks, along with Tundra swans and a Red-throated loon. There have often be large rafts of many hundreds of Redhead, Canvasbacks, American Widgeon, and even some Long-tailed ducks, Scaup, Ring-necked ducks, and a dozen or more White-winged scoters. What a show !!
Here is a distant image of a small part of one of those rafts showing mostly Redhead, Canvasbacks, and Widgeon along with several Tundra swans; in the foreground is the Red-throated loon.
And, finally, we were treated often to large number of ducks flying up and down the river. Here is a small group of airborne Redhead.
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