Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Red-necked Grebe
Scientific name:	Podiceps grisegena
Date:	October 23, 2010
Time:	11:00 am
Length of time observed:	45 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Immature?
Sex:	?
Location:	Jordanelle Reservoir
County:	wasatch
Latilong:
Elevation:	6180 ft
Distance to bird:	Maybe 100 yards?
Optical equipment:	Kowa Spotting Scope
Weather:	Very Overcast, Raining
Light Conditions:	Poor. Flat and dark.
Description: Size of bird:	Large Grebe
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Long necked Grebe
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark gray body, reddish neck, dark cap on top of head, pale cheeks.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Long and thick. Evenly tapered to a sharp point.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	The bird was a long necked grebe, big tailless body with a long neck and a long pointed bill. The body was a dark gray color. Neck was dark along the back and pale reddish on the sides and front up to the head. The head was large with a dark cap and pale cheeks. Dark area of cap bled into the pale area of the cheeks forming dusky streaks making me think this was probably a first year bird. Eye was dark and situated within the dark area of the cap. Bill was mostly dirty yellowish, heavy and pointed. Upper and lower mandible tapered evenly to a sharp point, taper just very slightly steeper the closer to the tip. Unlike Clark's/Western with a straight top edge of upper mandible and a lower mandible that curves up to meet the tip of the top. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None
Behavior:	Swam and dove in water.
Habitat:	Open water on large reservoir. Stayed sort of near a spit of land that jutted out into the reservoir. Some short brush on the land.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	From Clark's/Western Grebe by the thicker neck, reddish color on the neck, the bill shape (heavier with a tapered upper mandible), shape of head (blockier with a peak at the back of the head) and dark eye. From loons by longer neck and color and pattern on head and neck.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen several Red-necked Grebes on the West Coast and a couple here in Utah. I am very familiar with Western and Clark's Grebes.
References consulted:	Sibley Guide to birds.
Description from:	From memory
Observer:	Eric Huish
Observer's address:	850 E 100 N, Pleasant Grove Ut, 84062
Observer's e-mail address:	poorwill_@hotmail.com
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Jeff Cooper, KC Childs, Eric Peterson and several others later that day. Plus others reported seeing the bird up to a week after the initial sighting.
Date prepared:	11/04/10
Additional material:	Photos
Additional_Comments:	Jeff Cooper ran out to the end of the peninsula and was able to get a little closer and a few photos of the bird before it started raining.