In bird photography, timing is often everything.
Two days ago at Bear River MBR I found a mated pair of Western Grebes that were fishing while they were about 125′ apart on a large pond. I was about to leave them when I noticed them swimming directly toward each other. I actually anticipated that they might be about to perform the well-known “Greeting Ceremony” that they often perform when they come together after a mated pair has been temporarily separated.
This time I anticipated correctly. I took 151 photos of them as they performed the complex ceremony that includes behaviors that researchers call “Advertising, Dip-shaking, Bob-shaking, Bob-preening, and Arch-clucking”. I may post some of those photos in the future but today I chose to post a single photo from the ceremony where I got lucky with the timing of the shot.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
As the male, in front, was performing for the female by stretching his neck vertically and pointing his bill down while his body was at about a 45° angle in the water, I got two shots like this with the female peering at us through the narrow space between the male’s neck and bill.
One thing that makes this photo work for me is that I somehow avoided getting the shadow of the male’s neck on the female’s face. As you can tell from the narrow shadow on the back part of her head that we do see, the rising sun was directly over my left shoulder.
I’m finding it hard to explain why I like “peekaboo shots” similar to this one as much as I do so I’ll just post the photo and let it sink or swim based on its own merits.
Here’s a vertical composition of the same photo for those who don’t like seeing cut-off reflections.
The Greeting Ceremony is actually an abbreviated form of the better-known Rushing Ceremony so I was hoping that these birds would follow up by rushing. But this time it didn’t happen.
Maybe next time.
Ron
I was a duck Valley Indian Reservation fishing one spring. There were about a dozen pairs of Western Grebes that were performing their courtship display. The fish weren’t biting so I just sat there for over an hour just watching these multiple pairs of Western Grebes perform the ritual. It was like viewing a synchronize swim team. So cool
Swim, gorgeously. Thanks.
Definitely swim.
How I would love to see this in person, and like many, many others want to see more of your photos.
Thanks, EC. At some point there will probably be more of them coming.
Their heads and bills form a little heart. ❤️ I think they did that on purpose just for you (and for us!). Looking forward to seeing more of their greeting ceremony in the future — hint hint. 😉 Some day, I hope to be able to see their performances in person.
“Some day, I hope to be able to see their performances in person.”
Knowing you Marty, you’d enjoy the hell out of it. And it’s even more fun when you can predict what they’re going to do with pretty good accuracy.
I’d love it! (Unless there are tons of no-see-ums — then not so much as I welt up from regular mosquitoes.)
No-see-ums aren’t a problem at Bear River where there’s the best access to many nesting grebes. There’s kabillions of midges though and you’ll probably eat some if you come, but midges don’t bite back. To the uninitiated they’re intimidating as hell but they’re completely harmless.
Beautiful photos! And a nice lesson on Western Grebes.
Thanks on both counts, Bill.
Great shots, I like them a lot. I did not know the rituals had names, nice to learn something new. I have always referred to it as pair bonding ceremonies. I still have a bunch I have not gone over from several trips weeks ago. I got behind while my computer was being upgraded.
On another note, I still think the bokeh of your lens is far better than on the newer 100-500mm zoom. In fact I think the bokeh on my 100-400mm was even better than the newer zoom. It’s one thing I have been critical of with the newer 100-500mm lens
Thanks, April. My ‘old’ EF (rather than RF) lens is well known for its excellent bokeh, which is one of several reasons I decided not to “upgrade” to an RF lens. I love my lens, even though it’s large and fairly heavy.
Very romantic!
I think so too.
So touching. Gives the “human emotion” of caring. I truly believe animals do care-in their way- for one another.
Thanks, Marcia. I certainly wouldn’t argue with you about that.
I love “peekaboo“ shots, too. Like views through windows or cave openings or over fences. For me, it’s because it sort of teases the imagination.
It’s hard not to anthropomorphize this image… The word “tender“ comes to mind.
Great shot, Ron. Look forward to others.
Thanks, Ellen. On another recent grebe blog post I called their pose a “tender moment”. Anthropomorphize away.
Excellent shots Ron and definitely not sinking. Have seen them here from time to time, but don’t recall ever seeing mating behavior. I think for a closeup to include the reflection it almost has to be vertical.
Thanks Everett. If you have Western Grebes there now there’d almost certainly be opportunities of observing and photographing mating behavior.
Beautiful capture, Ron! 🙂 I like the intimacy of the horizontal better since the reflection isn’t “clear”.
Thanks, Judy. Agreed, I’ve seen ‘better’ reflections.
That is lovely. Beautiful. Nice work Ron.
Both compositions are gems, but I think the vertical flows best.
Looking forward to seeing the other shots you got.
Thanks, Michael. I’m one of those who doesn’t like seeing cut-off reflections whenever possible, so I also slightly prefer the vertical.