This grebe gave me some interesting and unexpected poses two days ago at Bear River MBR.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Usually the Western (and Clark’s) grebes along the south end of the auto tour route are a little nervous when a vehicle approaches because the road is so close to the canal there. As a result they typically aren’t relaxed enough at first to engage in self-maintenance behaviors but this bird just looked me over momentarily…
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
and then performed a nice wing stretch at a pleasing angle and in good light.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Then it raised its bulky body out of the water. More often than not when they do this they perform a body shake but this time the bird did a wing flap instead.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 400, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Then the grebe settled back down on the water surface as it folded its wings again.
I’ve noticed that many grebe species (Pied-billed for example) usually turn their back to me before they perform maneuvers similar to this – possibly to be facing the best get-a-way direction in their moment of relative vulnerability so it was nice to get a pleasing angle on this bird during the behavior.
I was quite close to this grebe and I was using my teleconverter so these images are almost full frame and in some of them (particularly the first image) I didn’t have the pixels to crop and compose ideally.
Ron
They are really striking with those eyes, aren’t they?
I think the first photo is beautiful. I would keep the field image in my memory for decades if I had viewed this through binocs for a second. Of course my brain can’t compare the 1/10th seconds that the camera uses to document an image to my mental impression of a second in the field.
How would you crop it to improve the image?
Pam, my eye wants more room in the frame above the bird’s head. I had that room but I lost it when I rotated the image to level. I could have added canvas up there but in this case I chose not to. I don’t think it’s a poor composition, just that it could be improved a little.
These are all beautiful photos. It’s nice that the bird was cooperative, for once…
Yes, cooperative birds are always appreciated when they come along, Susan.
Oooooh.
And thank you. And the Grebe.
Glad you like them, EC.
There’s so much interest in these shots. I especially love the first one with the ripples in the water and the reflection (particularly now that I know more about reflections!).
Ahh, you remembered the reflection lesson! Good to know, Linda.
What wonderful shots Ron!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
What nice images and comments to start the day with! There’e an elegance to them in their coloring…black and white, puntuated by those beautiful, bright red eyes…
Yes, they are elegant looking, Patty – until their body rises up out of the water and we see how very chunky they are. It always surprises me…
And if they aren’t rushing along, walking/running on water with their heads on upside down…
They are such beautiful birds. I love their eyes. Nice series Ron!
Their eyes are spectacular, Jean. Thank you.
Excellent shots Ron, beautiful bird nice composure the feather detail is right on.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks very much, Dick.