Over the shoulder look from a bathing Pied-billed Grebe – Nikon D500, f11, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
On the first day of this year the sun was shining brightly in the afternoon, it was very chilly, a stiff breeze was blowing plus the water in a nearby pond was just barely above freezing and a Pied-billed decided to bathe close to where I sat shivering from the cold. I was disappointed in many of my images of the grebe where the water was splashing because the bird’s bill was wet and there were specular highlights on it that I couldn’t get over. I don’t like “cleaning” up things like that during post processing because of my personal ethics in presenting the subject as I photographed them so 90% of the time they just go into my delete bin.
There were some images of the bathing Pied-billed Grebe I did like because they showed a view of the grebe I don’t share all that often, the back side of the grebe. They have cute little bottoms, so why not?
The Pied-billed Grebe had stopped splashing around for a few seconds so its bill wasn’t wet and I didn’t get any weird looking specular highlights on it but its head feathers were still wet and had a spiky look to them.
Back view of a bathing Pied-billed Grebe – Nikon D500, f11, 1/500, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A few frames later the Pied-billed Grebe lifted its head higher and seemed bother by the ducks that were approaching it and I liked how this photo seemed to make the grebe appear more alert than in the photo above.
The water was such a stunning blue color and it highlighted the warm tones of the grebe’s plumage so nicely.
Yesterday due to several nights being in the low teens and days in the twenties this pond was frozen over except for a few places, I haven’t seen that happen for a few winters. The temps will be warming back up this weekend and I’d bet that the pond will open up again before too long.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Pied-billed Grebe photos plus facts and information about this species.
Adorable tush shots! I’m so glad you included these. It is interesting to see the foot carriage while on the water.
A complete charmer – and a very, very cute butt.
I love pied-billed bottoms! They are actually very downy, their outer feathers are stiff. I think I have mentioned before that there are 2 birds that feel wonderful to hold, (in a rehab setting) pied-billed grebes and ruddy ducks. Both have the most pleasant feel, firm round bodies that fit perfectly in your 2 clasped hands. They make me smile.
I love seeing Pied-billed Grebes. To me they are just so darn cute. We only saw them during migration but the last couple of years they have been missing, even during migration. Sad.