On May 9, 2025, we were on our way to the NOAA Station when I spotted and looked through my binoculars at a waterbird in the channel. Carl was a bit ahead of me, so I yelled to him there was a breeding plumage Horned Grebe. We only see Horned Grebe during migration, so I was excited. Carl looked through the scope as it was about two-thirds of the way out the channel. I was wrong. It was an Eared Grebe in breeding plumage. It was working its way closer to the inner side of the break wall as I was taking photos. It came as close as 30 feet away diving and resurfacing as it worked its way along the edge as I took lots of photos.
Back at the NOAA Station and to our complete astonishment, it came almost right next to the break wall with us standing on the break wall 10 feet immediately above it. This photo is almost the full frame. I cropped the bottom slightly to remove the blurred blue railing I was standing next to. That is why only part of the foot is in the photo.
It is rare to see an Eared Grebe at anytime in Ottawa County and when we do, it is usually during the winter. This was a special treat, so I posted it on WhatsApp. Curtis D, the Ottawa County Parks Naturalist, was leading a field trip the next day. There were about 15 of us looking for the bird for at least one-half hour when Lonny spots it. Lots of scurrying around to see through scopes and many headed out the break wall for better looks and photos. It was a lifer for some and an Ottawa County bird for most of the rest of the birders.
After discussions amongst the group, it was determined this was the first breeding plumage Eared Grebe observed in Ottawa County, Michigan.
(NOAA) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration building located along the break wall in the Holland State Park Channel.