I think it might be a juvenile horned grebe. The juveniles of both horned and eared look similar, at least according to Sibley. However the juv horned grebe has a light spot between the eye and bill with a dark line running from the eye to the bill, which I think I see in your photo. The juvenile horned also has an oval head while the juvenile eared has a squared head. The head of the bird in your photo looks more oval to me.
This photo of a what I think is a horned grebe (next to a RUDU) was taken at Emmett Wastewater Treatment Plant 9/12/21. I have not been able to ID it. The eye color told me it was a horned grebe but just didn’t feel confident. There were others that definitely looked like horned grebes and eared grebes in a mix with RUDUs. Would love someone to tell me what it is and why.
Currently, American Falls silo area is hosting an adult Long-tailed Jaeger, immature jaeger (need to look at photos to better ID), and the Little Gull is still present.
Austin Young
Pocatello
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Austin Young younaust@… Undergraduate Student Ecology and Conservation Biology Club President Idaho State University Pocatello, Idaho
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