Late yesterday afternoon this thoughtful grebe took pity on me and saved my day at almost the last minute.
Like usual lately yesterday was heavily overcast and gloomy so bird photography just wasn’t in the cards and I stayed home. But very late in the afternoon the sun came out unexpectedly so I drove down to several nearby ponds to look for cooperative birds. A couple of lazy Pied-billed Grebes were the only interesting birds to come in close but they were lethargic and boring so I was resigned to being skunked of any interesting photos.
But fairly close to sundown and just before I pulled the plug and headed for home one of the grebes unexpectedly went into a bathing, wing-flapping frenzy in good light and reasonably close.
I took over 200 shots of “him” while he was bathing and shaking but he was seldom turned at a good angle to me so this is one of the few photos that had any light in his eye. He was determined to get every last feather wet and I’m sure he succeeded.
After his bath it was time for some serious wing-flapping. At least this time he performed at a better angle to me.
I took a bunch of shots during the wing-flap but I had the best wing angle in these two. Sometimes in a burst my shutter fires at the most opportune moments and sometimes it doesn’t.
Then he settled back into the water and I thought he was done. And he was, for a while.
At this point a nice gentleman who’d noticed our big lenses sticking out the windows of my pickup came over to talk to us. He wanted to know if we photographed wildlife other than birds. When we said yes he told us about some elk who are apparently easy to photograph up in the mountains in the Park City area.
But while I was talking to him I kept my eye on the grebe and suddenly he looked like he might perform once again.
And he did, with yet another extended wing-flap.
And this time I think I got slightly better wing positions and head angles.
I felt badly because I was firing away with my noisy shutter and my eye glued to the viewfinder of my camera while the gentleman was trying to talk to us. I thought he might think I was being rude but when I apologized and explained he said he fully understood.
When I have to choose between birds and people I’ll take birds almost every time, even when they’re as friendly as that guy was.
Ron
Note: I haven’t included my image techs because they were somewhat inappropriate for the situation. Let’s just say I had plenty of shutter speed (ranging from 1/3200 to 1/8000).
Fabulous views in perfect light. You really froze those droplets! BTW, here in south Florida all the grebes I have seen this winter lack the conspicuous dark mark on their bills. Maybe first year birds or a seasonal occurrence.
Thanks, Ken. Only adults during breeding season sport that black band on their bill.
I seem to be on the same wavelength as Diana. I’m totally seeing this Grebe conducing an orchestra. Perhaps I’ve sat in too many of them and it has affected my perceptions.
Looking forward to some elk shots soon! (hint hint hint) 😉
I dunno about the elk, Marty. I was so into shooting this grebe I didn’t even think to ask him for more precise directions.
Road trip! 😀
Wonderful images!
Thank you, Gary.
I really, really love watching birds bathe. I am sure that they enjoy it to the max. In several of these shots the grebe looks like he is waling on water…
Wanna swap weather? We have new fires breaking out, and a day of high winds ahead.
Nope, I sure don’t want to swap, EC. A bit of a compromise for us both would sure be nice though.
And I’ve been reading about your “new” issue with funnel web spiders. When will it ever quit for you guys…
Oh yes. A compromise would be lovely.
Some world-wide weather moderation.
What a fun series of photos! Lovely little grebe and your amazing talents have made my day. I am still smiling.
Glad to hear it, Melanie. Smiles can be in short supply these days. Thanks.
Great series! The bathing/wing-flapping scenario is so fascinating to observe yet not easy to capture as artfully as you have done. So many things can interfere with the process. Light, choppy water, distracting background, angle of the subject and, my personal favorite, photo-bombing. Usually it’s a coot. I think they must be an insecure species and feel the need to be in EVERY picture of waterfowl I attempt!
Excellent photographs, Ron! Thank you for continuing to share.
Gini started calling Pied-billed Grebes “Fluffy Butts” many years ago and now all who go birding with us have adopted the nickname. Except the one ornithologist. He continues to sniff with disdain in our direction. We get that a lot …
I suppose he would object to me referring to bird britches too?
EC, with your sophisticated Aussie accent, he would be thrilled at the sound of your voice and let any scientific slights slide.
Sophisticated? Moi? Queue hysterical laughter.
Perhaps this ornithologist’s “britches” are on a bit too tight???
Perfect, Marty. Perfecto!
I agree with you about coots, Wally. They seem to enjoy the attention. Or the aggravation they can cause. Or both.
Glad you were able to get these photos of a decidedly cute Grebe at the last light of day. . Probably typical of the species, but he looks quite plump. I’m surprised you didn’t tuck tail and head straight away to Park City😉
Lyle, all grebe species I photograph are “decidedly plump” when they come up out of the water like that. Surprisingly so.
It was almost sunset when he told me about the elk and it takes me at least a half hour to get to Park City. And that would have been at rush hour. No thanks, I don’t do rush hour anymore…
I’m calling this “ The Conductor”😁
Birds put such enthusiasm into bathing, fun to watch.
Someday that big, bright, yellow thing will make an appearance. I can’t wait either❗️
Enjoy your day
Ha, if he was a conductor the beat would have been so fast none of the musicians would have been able to keep up!
I see you’ve forgotten what that “yellow thing” is called too…
I like the first shot a lot because of the water droplets suspended in midair, and the light in general. It’s eyecatching because the bird looks like an oak gall at first, round and buff colored in front.
Thanks, Martha. I have many photos similar to that one but it was the one with the most interesting water drops.
Ron, there is hope. Someday that gloom and overcast will be gone and it will be spring. Some photographers would have packed up and gone home since there was nothing going on with only a grebe, but you turned only a grebe into a fun and exciting series. I have taken many grebe photos, but realized looking at these that I have never seen one do the wing-flap. It is always tough when “nice” people approach you while in the process of taking photos. While out taking eagle photos I have often been interrupted by nice well meaning folks who wonder what I am doing pointing a camera at something way up in the trees.
“there is hope”
I hope you’re right, Everett. I’m beginning to think this overcast might be permanent… 🙂
Love that second shot. Flap away.
Thanks, Arwen.
Grebe #1 reminded me of a “drumming” Sagebrush Grouse—I thought that the silvery water flying all around him was a beautiful ornament !
Yes, I see the resemblance.
Fun series, Ron……. 🙂 The grebe was certainly putting on a show! Glad the sunshine “God’s” and the grebe cooperated…. 😉 Give you a bit of a “fix” anyway…….
Thanks, Judy.
Great shots Ron. The high lso’s didnt seem to hurt at all. Out of curiosity, any idea as to how many frames your camera has taken? Looks like another gloomy day for shooting.
Thanks, Sterling. No, I haven’t checked the shutter count on my cameras lately but I’m sure it’s a bunch. I have two 7DII’s and I suspect they’re both very high. Checking shutter counts isn’t as easy to do with Canon cameras as it is with Nikon but it can be done. 7DII’s are built like a tank so I’m hopeful they’ll last significantly longer.
Some days we just have to take what’s offered! 🙂 But you know, I like them all. It’s as if he was asking you..’do you like this’? ‘How about this?’ ‘I can do more if you like’. I have a photo similar to your 4th one and it is my all-time favorite Grebe photo. Offerings around here lately…’slim pickings’. But better days are coming. Geez…I’m full of quotes this morning so I’ll stop while I’m ahead.
He gave me plenty of opportunities, no question about that, Kathy. But I’d have missed many of them if I hadn’t kept my eye on the grebe while I was talking to that guy (I’d call him a fisherman but it was actually his young son who was doing the fishing).