Pied-billed Grebe bathingPied-billed Grebe bathing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

While I was at Farmington Bay two days ago in between photographing the Common Mergansers I shared yesterday I also photographed a few Pied-billed Grebes. Pied-billed Grebes are year round residents in Utah and will only leave the area where they are located during the winter when the water freezes over. It has been an odd year here with brief freezes then thaws so these little grebes have stuck around.

When I saw this Pied-billed Grebe bathing at Farmington Bay I couldn’t resist photographing it as it splashed water all over itself.

Bathing Pied-billed GrebeBathing Pied-billed Grebe – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

It is hard to see in my photos but the grebe’s wings where half submerged under the water and the grebe was fluttering them which caused the water to splash up. The grebe also dipped its entire body into the water once but the only photo I have of that is splashing water and a tiny glimpse of the bird.

Pied-billed Grebe splashing water while bathingPied-billed Grebe splashing water while bathing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The Pied-billed Grebe didn’t bathe for very long so I am glad I kept firing in a very long burst while it splashed around.

I love that I can fire very long bursts with the Nikon D500 without having to worry about my buffer filling up, it hasn’t happened to me once in the field since I got the D500.

Pied-billed Grebe after a bathPied-billed Grebe after a bath – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

When the grebe was finished bathing and stopped fluttering its wings I was able to get a few images of it like the one above as I waited for it to flap its wings which they normally do after bathing.

But the grebe turned its back to me just before it flapped its wings. I believe I called it a little turd for doing that.

Ah well. Life is good and it is better with birds in it.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Pied-billed Grebe photos plus facts and information about this species.