Western Grebes | on the wing photography

Give Me Winter or Give Me Spring!

By Mia McPherson, on February 7th, 2012%

All over the U.S. this winter is reported as “The Winter that Wasn’t”. I believe it, I’m living it. The temperatures have been warmer, there has been very little snow in the Salt Lake Valley and it has just been very odd. The numbers of Bald Eagles are very low at Farmington Bay Wildlife Management Area compared to last year at this time and it seems the Rough-legged Hawks have started to move north already because their numbers are dwindling.

But I have begun to notice the signs of spring. Common Ravens and Loggerhead Shrikes are pairing up, Western Meadowlarks are singing their little hearts out and tiny green shoots of grass trying to emerge from the cold soil. So, enough already, if there isn’t going to be a winter then bring on the spring!

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) with its eye on another Grebe

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) with its eye on another Grebe ~ Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1500, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC 400mm, natural light

Each spring I look forward to seeing the arrival of Western Grebes in noisy, gregarious flocks. For me, they mean the ice has melted and that spring is making its appearance. Western Grebes are handsome black and white birds with cherry red eyes and long sharp bills. Western Grebes are graceful in the water, clumsy on land and enchanting during their amazing courtship rushes.

I hope to get acceptable (by my own personal standards) of them rushing this spring if the Bear River refuge remains open throughout this years breeding season. Last year there was some flooding and road work happening that closed the road to the auto tour where rushing can usually be seen and photographed.

Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) family portrait ~ Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Western Grebes make floating nests using plant materials that are normally attached to submerged vegetation and both sexes incubate the eggs.

Within minutes of hatching the young climb onto the parents back and are hidden under the feathers which is called back-brooding and lasts for several weeks. In my opinion it is very endearing to see the young poke their heads out of the back feathers of the adult to beg for food or to just look around.

Yeah, bring on spring, I can barely wait to see Western Grebes again!

Mia

More Western Grebe images

Spring fever…

By Mia McPherson, on March 27th, 2011%

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)

Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)
Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 320, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, not a set up, natural light

I have the fever. Aspirin won’t help nor will bed rest because spring fever can only be cured by getting out and soaking up spring! For a little while today the sun was shining and teasing me. A storm is rolling in tonight and tomorrow is going to be cruddy … but a high pressure front is coming in after this storm and the weather is looking better, spring time is knocking at the door.

It is about time for a cure for this spring fever.

Cliff Swallow with collecting mud for its nest

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) collecting mud for its nest
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Nikon, f6.3, 1/400, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

I’ve seen signs of Ravens, Black-billed Magpies, Canada Geese, Horned Larks and other birds preparing their nests. It won’t be long and there will be many more pairs of birds mating and incubating eggs. They have spring fever too.

Quite a few species of trees have started to open their buds, I’m seeing green on the willows, a flush of new blooms on some cherry trees and I have been hearing the songs of the chorus frogs. There are crocus, snowdrops and grape hyacinths in bloom and the daffodils and tulips will soon follow along with the sweet perfume of the lilacs.

Yes, spring is warm, inviting and exciting.

Western Grebes courting in early spring

Western Grebes (Aechmorphus occidentalis) courting in early spring
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, +1.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Don’t get me wrong, I love winter and the birds I see then. I love to see the mountains heavily covered in snow, frosted vegetation and breathing in the brisk air.

Spring seduces me. Refreshes me. It whispers to me softly to come outside to savor nature and wildlife and feel the warm breeze caress my skin. It beckons to me to go camping to spend the daylight hours exploring and promises star-filled nights out where all I might hear are the sounds of howling coyotes and the hoot of an owl or two. Away from the city, out where you can hear for miles.

Male Red-winged Blackbird singing on cattails

Male Red-winged Blackbird (Agelius phoeniceus) singing on old cattails
Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 250, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, not a set up, natural light

Spring has a musical rhapsody which is entirely its own. Birds such as this Red-winged Blackbird seem unable to resist singing outloud and why should they? It is a great time of the year.

The snow melt will fill the mountain streams and as they tumble downward towards the valleys the tinkling and gurgling sounds that creates will fill the air. Yum, sitting on a sun warmed rock streamside and listening to that in the spring?

Priceless.

Mia

Two Grebe Species

By Mia McPherson, on September 1st, 2010%

Two Grebe species that are often misidentified are the Clark’s and Western Grebes. The Clark’s and Western Grebes are very closely related and they can be difficult to distinguish. Western and Clark’s Grebes are found strictly in North America, they share the same types of habitat and breeding grounds. Both species are very gregarious throughout the year. Until 1985 they were thought to be the same species that were classified as different color forms. Today we know them as two separate species.

Adult Clark's Grebe, Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
Adult Clark’s Grebe
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
D200, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 250, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

This Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) image was taken at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah. Though similar in form to the Western there are some differences.

The Clark’s has a bright orange to yellow bill
The black crest of the Clark’s does not reach the eye, there is a thin white area between the crest and the red of the eye
The Clark’s has a thin black line on the nape and the neck itself is thin
The back of the Clark’s grebe is mostly gray and white usually shows on the bird’s flanks

The Clark’s Grebe above had just come up from a dive, the dark gray feathers of the back do look darker than normal when wet.

Adult Western Grebe
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah
D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 200, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

This Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) image was taken on the same day as the Clark’s Grebe at the same location. Without looking closely it would be easy to mistake it for a Clark’s or vice versa.

The bill of the Western Grebe is a greenish yellow and it is slightly upturned
The black crown of the Western extends below the eye, in non-breeding plumage the dark part around the eye can be a bit lighter
The S-shaped neck of a Western Grebe is slightly thicker than the Clark’s and the black neck stripe of the nape is shaped a little differently
The Western Grebe has a dark gray back and white does not usually show on the flanks while the grebe is floating on the water

Both species rarely come to land because the placement of their legs far back on the body makes it awkward for them to walk. Both species make their nests from floating vegetation though on occasion the nests are constructed on land. They mainly feed on fresh or saltwater fish and crustaceans. Both species winter along the pacific coast of the southwest and Mexico.

Personally I find the calls of the Western and the Clark’s Grebes to be delightful, especially when they squabble with each other.

Both of these grebes can be challenging to expose correctly because of the white whites and the dark plumage. Early morning, late afternoon or diffused light is best as well as using careful exposure compensation evaluation.

Mia

More of my Western and Clark’s Grebe images