I’ve long wanted a shot of a grebe completely out of the water as it ran across a pond. Two days ago I got it.
1/3200, f/7.1, ISO 500, Canon 7D, 500 f/4, not baited, set up or called in
When a Pied-billed Grebe catches a fish it’s pretty typical for another bird or two to chase after it in an attempt at theft. I’ve photographed such action before but I’d never been able to get the bird completely out of the water.
But what was going on here was different and it’s a behavior I can’t explain. There were about 20 grebes on the pond and they weren’t actively fishing – in fact they were quite lethargic, even for PB Grebes. Then, with no apparent warning that I could see, a group of the grebes would suddenly run furiously across the water in the same direction and this happened several times in a span of perhaps 10 minutes. There were never any fish involved or any other obvious instigator of the behavior. I saw no fighting or any other kind of obvious aggression between birds.
Over the years I’m sure I’ve spent several hundred hours at this pond during winter watching and photographing grebes and other birds and this was a behavior completely new to me – previously there had always been a fish catalyst. I know that these grebes are highly pugnacious during the breeding season but that’s something I normally don’t see because these birds typically nest in areas of the marsh that are inaccessible to visitors and this of course is not breeding season.
I do wish I had more room to the left in the image for better composition but I’m still happy to get the shot. It’s not easy to keep these birds in frame and in focus while they’re running on the water – they’re very fast.
Ron
I understand why you’d like more canvas to the left of this bird, but it is a fabulous photo. I’m glad you were able to finally get one with the bird completely out of the water.
Fantastic shot. I can see why you were excited. I love the colors in the bird, and has a keen expression in its face.
Thank you for all the thoughtful comments on this image, everyone. I got a little behind the 8-ball today and haven’t been able to respond individually to the comments as I like to but please know that your input and feedback is (as always) very much appreciated!
These birds are so much fun to watch. I’ve wondered if you enter your photos in the Audubon photography contests… I’m sure you’d do very well! You also need to come to New Mexico the the Bosque Del Apache bird refuge and take photos of the water birds here – and the sand hill cranes that land by the millions (it seems) on the bisque…Great photo, Ron
Wow – thanks for making my day! 🙂
Simple-They’re training for upcoming olympics…..great shot!
Hi Ron. We saw a similar behavior for very different reasons last summer. We were on a float trip down the Missouri and stopped for lunch at the Dearborn River. The Dearborn runs west to east into the Missouri and is about 30 feet wide and wade-able at that point. It is used quite a bit for camping and picnicking. A couple was perhaps 50 yards further up the little river on the south bank and walking toward us with a young black lab. All of a sudden a whole raft of Merganser ducklings (unfledged but soft-ball sized)scooted out of the reeds just opposite the lab. The lab went nuts, splashing into the foot deep water and chasing for all he was worth. The owners went nuts and my daughter-in-law went nuts yelling at the dog. Obviously the ducklings were hopping over the water for all they were worth. They finally stopped the dog and the ducklings disappeared again into the waterside foliage. It was hilarious. I wish I’d had a video camera taking both the action and the sound.
See what your pictures stimulate?
Thanks again. Every day I look forward to your postings.
Great shot!!!
Ron–That must have been quite amazing to witness…great action shot!!! (The explanation is obvious…They’re getting ready for the Olympics….the 26 mile water marathon. It’s a killer!) P:)
Amazing shot! Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
beautiful photo.
Amazing Capture Ron. And I think composition wise it works just as well in this case and emphasizes the lift off from the back right leg and gives it a more powerful feeling IMO.Well Done !
oh wow, Ron, and did you ever!!!!! Way to GO!!!!!! Such fun!!!
Worth the wait … and you nailed it. I haven’t seen the behavior you describe either.
Excellent shot Ron. I wonder if dominance and showing off that dominance is a factor here. As we all know male avian species tend to be very active as their gonads increase in size, even in winter. I believe the increase in the size of their gonads reaches a peak before the advent of copulation. Along the coast, here in the east, I’ve seen male ducks of various species go through behavior that suggests this dominance. Of course not all males show aggression, but the more dominate ones or ones that are wanna bees might show this aggression or show-off behavior. Just a thought.
Thanks Dick. You may very well be right BUT I do wonder why I’ve never seen the behavior before in all those hundreds of hours I’ve spent with them during winter. Just another one of those little but intriguing mysteries that make birds so interesting for me…
Good morning sir.. As I read the stats on this great photo,I see that you have put in two f/stops.. I must be missing something.. Yesterday I got a shot of a leausistic Redtailed Hawk,and the image was soft.. 1/500 shutter,,Do you think I should bump up ,and the iso also?? It is a male as he was with a bigger regular colored one..thank you gary stay warm,tis a old fashioned winter!!
Gary, The second “f/stop” is the speed of my 500mm lens. The shot was taken at f/7.1. And yes, my advice would be to have a faster SS than 1/500 for birds in flight (if yours was in flight), even for large birds like hawks. If the bird was perched you should be able to get sharp shots at that SS using good long lens technique.