Pied-billed Grebe

Gallery: AvianPosted February 6, 201075 views15 comments

I finally was able to get out for a half day and went to Sweetwater near Tucson just to enjoy nature and birding again. I liked the over the shoulder pose this little Grebe was giving me as I watched him.

Comments and suggestions are welcome!

Canon 50D, 300mm f/4 IS w/1.4 handheld, 1/1600 @ f/5.6, ISO 400

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 6, 2010 at 10:35 PM

Like the different perspective here!
Nice feather detail and reflection!
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 6, 2010 at 10:42 PM

Hi Hans,

Good to see you back again. Nice shot of the grebe. I like the unusual angle and the reflection. This species is one of my favorites. Hopefully they'll show up here again in a few months.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 6, 2010 at 10:57 PM

It is a nice head turn and I like the color of the water. I'm always amazed at how fluffy they are even right after a dive. Yours looks so soft and downy! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 6, 2010 at 11:31 PM

I've not had the pleasure to see one of these in the wild ... thanks for the fine image that lets me know what I'm missing.

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 6, 2010 at 11:35 PM

Sweet shot, Hans. I like the over-the-shoulder look too. Nice detail and light here.

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 6, 2010 at 11:41 PM

I'd love the go to Sweetwater one day - the reflection is very nice as is the detail. The OOF vegetation on the left does alter the simplicity of this image though

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Cunliffe on February 7, 2010 at 12:19 AM

Great job, this very nicely captures the two most distinctive features of this grebe, its bill and its sawn-off back end. And a fine reflection as a bonus.

Registered on May 25, 2009, 62 Posts, 202 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 7, 2010 at 1:05 AM

Really nice, Hans. I don't know how you get so close to these guys with that 300mm.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 7, 2010 at 6:59 AM

I like the grebe's pose and the head angle Hans and I also like the colors in the water. Neat reflection too.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 7, 2010 at 10:16 AM

Lovely, Hans! I like the look-back and angle of shot. I hope you are feeling well again.

Take care,

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 7, 2010 at 10:46 AM

Lovely bird and reflection. Such nice detail that makes the feathers look soft.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 7, 2010 at 11:44 AM

Nice position, colors, and reflection. Well done.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 7, 2010 at 11:59 AM

Hans, this is a great low shot of this grebe. I like this angle and the head turn. The one piece of vege on the left does catch my eye, but not a big issue IMO

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on February 7, 2010 at 2:37 PM

As others have said, good head turn, terrific reflection. Minor nits: stick floating on left side, eye appears not to be in plane of sharpest focus (hard to tell at this resolution)

I saw a small flock of these this morning in clear shallow water. They swim surprisingly fast underwater compared to their normal speed on the surface.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 8, 2010 at 10:15 AM

Welcome back Hans. I like the reflection here. A cute little Grebe.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments