The black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) is in the grebe family of water birds. During the breeding season, the head, neck, and breast are dark, with some yellow behind the eyes; the flanks are tawny rufous to maroon-chestnut; and the abdomen is white. The non-breeding bird has greyish flanks and no yellow feathers. This species is present in parts of Africa, Eurasia, and the Americas. It catches insects on the surface of the water, in flight, or occasionally on foliage, and dives to catch crustaceans, molluscs, tadpoles, and small frogs and fish. It makes a floating cup nest on an open lake, in which three or four eggs hatch after a 21-day incubation period. After about 10 days, the parents divide the brood between themselves, and after roughly 10 more days, the chicks become independent. The black-necked grebe travels as far as 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) during migration, in the course of which it pauses to moult.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-necked_grebe

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1902:

The Dorchester Heights Monument, memorializing the siege of Boston during the American Revolutionary War, was dedicated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorchester_Heights_Monument

1957:

A plane crash on the slopes of Mount Manunggal killed Philippine president Ramon Magsaysay and 24 others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1957_Cebu_Douglas_C-47_crash

1979:

The Penmanshiel Tunnel in the Scottish Borders region of Scotland collapsed during refurbishing construction, killing two workers, and leading to the abandonment of the tunnel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penmanshiel_Tunnel

2004:

Unrest in Kosovo broke out, resulting in the deaths of 28, the wounding of more than 600 others, and the destruction of several Serb Orthodox churches and shrines. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_unrest_in_Kosovo

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

wet the shamrock: (idiomatic, intransitive, Ireland, informal) To go for an alcoholic drink, especially as part of a victory celebration or on Saint Patrick's Day. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wet_the_shamrock

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Man dwells apart, though not alone, He walks among his peers unread; The best of thoughts which he hath known For lack of listeners are not said.   --Jean Ingelow https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean_Ingelow