I rarely get opportunities with Horned Grebes but I got one yesterday. I’ve photographed this species a few times but I believe this is the first Horned Grebe photo I’ve ever posted to my blog.
A fairly short post today. Yesterday’s post took a lot of research and time so this morning I’m taking a bit of a breather.
1/5000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning at Bear River MBR I spotted this Horned Grebe lurking near the shore below me while I was looking at other birds much further away. I took lots of photos of ‘him’ but he was side lit so I preferred the shots where he was turned at just the right angle to the sun. In many of my photos he was closer to me than this but the steeper shooting angle didn’t appeal to me much.
Horned Grebes can be difficult to distinguish from the much more common (around here) Eared Grebes when they’re in nonbreeding (basic) plumage. But that distinct white spot in front of his eye gave this one away as a Horned Grebe.
I chose to post this particular photo because I like his reflection. For me the more red eyes the better and this guy has a plethora of them…
Ron
Ron,
Very cool.
Stephen
Here in the Puget Sound region Horned Grebe greatly outnumber Eared Grebe. In May of last year I photographed a partially leucistic Horned Grebe at Bear River MBR on the stretch of water along the Auto Route leading to the exit.
Interesting, John.
I like the disturbances in the water (fore and aft) almost as much as I like the bird. The stacked eyes in the reflection remind me of the old Norm’s Restaurant signs and their Googie architecture.
Thanks, Marty. I guess I’m unfamiliar with Norm’s Restaurant. But then I’m unfamiliar with nearly all restaurants and I was even before the pandemic.
Norm’s was a mid-century SoCal restaurant chain. They were huge for a while and now there are fewer and fewer of them remaining. Definitely still has the old-school coffee shop/family restaurant feel. Nostalgia 101. 🙂
https://norms.com
And while on the subject of family restaurants… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR6lgIuOR9M
Pretty bird(s), great reflection(s) photo! Yes, you’ve surely earned that break …
Thank you, Chris.
Very nice find and beautiful image. I have seen horned and red necked grebe at Quail Creek Reservoir in Southern Utah. They were way out on the water. I have not dared to take my camera gear on the open kayaks I rent at the reservoirs after drowning my older Nikon set up in a canoe with our class field trip to Little Dell Reservoir. However I will say it was my fault trying to balance a special needs very excited kid in a canoe and a camera at the same time, you know I will hang on tighter to the excited kid than the camera. I know Scott Baxter takes his camera gear out on his lovely wood kayaks, perhaps his experience or the style of his kayaks keep him dryer. When I use the plastic open kayaks I get everything wet if not down right soaking.
“you know I will hang on tighter to the excited kid than the camera”
For me that choice would be a tossup. 🙂
I know what you mean. I’m pretty sure I’d never take my 500mm out on a kayak. Well, maybe for an Ivory-billed Woodpecker…
So much beauty in such a small package.
I see way more Horned than Eared Grebes here in the Salish sea. No idea why.
Turned upside down one can see the rare Stack of Pancakes Grebe.
“I see way more Horned than Eared Grebes here in the Salish sea”
Lyle, In the western US most Horned Grebes concentrate near the west coast during winter but the wintering grounds of Eared Grebes are much more spread out. That’s probably why.
While I have always liked them, reflections are something I pay much more attention to since I discovered your blog. I always smile at red eye NOT being a photographer’s nemesis too.
Thank you (again and always) for my daily dose of delight and learning.
“reflections are something I pay much more attention to since I discovered your blog”
Good to know, EC. Reflections can really add to an image. On the other hand, a cut off reflection bothers me almost as much as a cut off bird.
Very nice reflection photo Ron. A couple years back I made myself a photo book of all my reflection photos of ducks, geese, herons, egrets, and a wide variety of shore birds.
And I join Judy in thanking you for the ID tip. We get visits from Eared Grebes, but I don’t think I have ever seen a Horned Grebe. From now on I will be checking the Eared Grebes more closely.
Everett, It’s always a good idea to check groups of birds pretty carefully. You never know what you’ll find buried in amongst them.
Nice! The red line from the eye to the bill (or bill to the eye) is what caught my attention. Reflection IS wonderful emphasizing the red eye. Thx for the tip on identification – always helpful.
A LOT of work did go into yesterdays post – a bit of R&R certainly in order. 😉
Thanks, Judy – for your help yesterday too.
Love the shot especially the reflection and droplets on its back.
Thank you, Dick.