This medium sized diving bird, long necked with striking black and white coloring, is only occasionally seen in our area, at least in my experience. It spends most of its time in the water. it uses its long, slender yellow bill to spear fish and other food.

"All About Birds" provides us with this information about the Western Grebe:

"A large, elegant, black-and-white grebe, the Western Grebe breeds in lakes and ponds across the American West and winters primarily off the Pacific Coast. The very similar Clark's Grebe was long thought to be the same species. Both species have a dramatic, choreographed courtship display, in which the birds rush across the water with their long necks extended."

SEE: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Western_Grebe/overview