Kyle is correct...the male Barrow's Goldeneye is a pretty easy ID and was quite approachable. I was able to note the teardrop-shaped spot behind the bill, the mostly black back with white spots, the lack of green irridescence that I could see on the Commons, the forward-sloping crown on the head, and the smallish bill. It did associate with a female Common for a while. If you're looking into the treatment facility, the bird was on the first pond on the right side at noon today. It's a good idea to check in at the main facility about 4(?) blocks N-NW of the actual ponds along River Road, but on the east side of the road. Thanks for the report, Kyle. -- Shawn Conrad http://users.2z.net/itasca_chippewa_birding/ On Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 10:45 AM, KCTEPO00 <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I enjoyed yesterday morning/afternoon in Grand Rapids while my wife was > there for some school stuff. Along the Mississippi River there were Common > Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, and Ring-Necked Ducks at just about every spot > I checked (but little else, save a few Common Mergansers). Most interesting > was the Barrow's Goldeneye at the Grand Rapids Sewage Ponds. It was > virtually unmistakable, especially with the close viewing access there. It > stood out immediately, compared to the many other Goldeneye near it. It > tended to stay to itself, mostly. It was the first one I've ever seen! > This was around noon yesterday. > > Thanks to Shawn Conrad whose website gave me ideas of places to go! > Sorry for the late post, I didn't have internet access yesterday. > > Kyle TePoel > Ely > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html