Clark's Grebe portrait, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahClark’s Grebe portrait – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 400, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I always enjoy being able to take portraits of my avian subjects because they allow closer views of the fine feather details of their faces, their eyes and their bills so last week when this adult Clark’s Grebe popped up close to the edge of the road at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I was delighted. This Clark’s Grebe portrait shows the brilliant red eye, the smoothness of the sharp bill and tiny water droplets in the downy plumage of the grebe’s face, crown and neck. I was only able to take a few frames before the grebe moved away and dove under the surface of the water but I was happy to have taken those frames.

This Clark’s Grebe was photographed the same day as the Black-necked Stilt I posted yesterday and the American White Pelican in an extreme variation of Supplemental plumage that I posted last week. Except for the American Bittern that I also photographed that day it seemed that most of my subjects were sporting black and white plumage.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Clark’s Grebe photos plus facts and information about this species.