![\"clark's](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/clarks-grebe-6020b-ron-dudley.jpg\")
1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nI photographed this Clark’s Grebe yesterday morning at Bear River MBR. The attachment of grebe’s legs to their bodies is so far to the rear that they’re able to achieve some eye-catching foot and leg\u00a0positions like this one. When Clark’s Grebes (and Western Grebes) are resting on the water they fold their legs over the top of\u00a0their backs and then store them under their wings and on top of their backs in a process called foot-shipping.<\/p>\n
But before they ship their foot they raise and shake it vigorously to rid it of excess water, which is what this bird is doing. The foot-shaking is extremely fast as is evidenced by the\u00a0slight motion blur of the foot even at 1\/4000 sec shutter speed. The softness of the foot is not a depth of field issue because the rest of the bird, including the rump, is sharp.<\/p>\n
Immediately after this photo was taken the grebe placed that foot under its wing,\u00a0laid its head down on the middle of its back and tucked its bill\u00a0to the side of\u00a0its long neck in that characteristic resting posture of the species.<\/p>\n
In this image I enjoy both the behavior and the indistinct double reflection\u00a0of the head\/neck and the raised yellow foot.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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Grebes have some unusual physical features and behaviors.<\/p>\n