Rare arctic sea bird spotted at Glen Canyon

(File photo: US Fish & Wildlife)

KANAB, Utah (AP) -- Bird enthusiasts surveying Glen Canyon National Recreation Area spotted at least one unexpected visitor: a wayward arctic sea bird.

The red-necked grebe was one of 81 species of birds noted during the annual Christmas Bird Count at Glen Canyon.

The survey was done by volunteers on Jan. 5 as part of an annual event across the country.

Four teams of volunteers spent the day on Lake Powell, the Colorado River and sites around Page, Ariz., to identify species and count birds.

They came back with reports of bald eagles, golden eagles, bluebirds ducks and a record number of Canada geese, some 825 wintering in and around Page.

The red-necked grebe spotted on the Colorado River was just the third ever recorded in northern Arizona.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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