Pied-billed Grebe

Gallery: AvianPosted December 20, 2010241 views25 comments

It's always a blast watching these birds try to swallow a relatively large fish before another grebe can steal it from them. This one had a difficult time getting the fish down, which gave me an opportunity for a few shots. The setting is mucky and a bit bright but I'm hoping the behavior helps to overcome that to some degree.

7D, 1/800, f/7.1, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 10/21/10, cropped to 50% of original image, reduced highlights in ACR, cloned out one small but distracting specular highlight, darkened background slightly, sharpened bird and fish, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not set up or baited

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 20, 2010 at 5:25 PM

You'd think that would hurt (the grebe)!

Excellent behavior shot.

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

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on December 20, 2010 at 5:37 PM

One of those shots that combine aesthetics with documentation. I particularly like the way the curve of the bird's neck extends into the body of the fish .
Very nice .
Giorgio

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Geoffrey Baker on December 20, 2010 at 5:43 PM

Excellent timing Ron.
Looks like it's having trouble swallowing such a big fish.
Well captured.

Geoff.

Registered on August 20, 2010, 192 Posts, 980 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on December 20, 2010 at 6:08 PM

That's quite a catch for bird and photographer - fascinating natural history and techs are spot-on.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 20, 2010 at 6:45 PM

Dang, the grebes here never try to tackle a fish that size that I have ever seen. Wild shot, Ron.

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

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 20, 2010 at 7:36 PM

That's is the largest prey I've ever seen a grebe take! I'll bet that was a blast to watch! Sharon

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 20, 2010 at 8:05 PM

Just amazing. The fish is as large as the bird. Grebes are deceptively hard to image-good job here.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on December 20, 2010 at 8:11 PM

Ron,

It is amazing how pied-billed grebes are able to swallow fish this large. Love the prey in the bill, how the neck of the grebe is stretched out, great look at the eye and how you were able to capture details in the wet back of this grebe, that is extremely challenging with this species when the feathers are soaked. I really do not mind the mats of filamentaceous algae floating on the water, the pose, behavior, details & sharpness are what keep my attention.

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

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 20, 2010 at 9:34 PM

Nice timing Ron! Amazing what these little guys can get down. Perfect head turn to get a good view of his eye and the prey.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 20, 2010 at 10:28 PM

I love it - something not quite perfect from you!
Gives the rest of us hope!

Really nice behavior certainly overcomes the minor shortcomings here.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on December 20, 2010 at 11:26 PM

Another small miracle of the natural world. How the heck? The feeling of having a live fish in your stomach is hard to fathom as well. The algae ridden water is kind of gross to put it bluntly, but a productive ecosystem. Good timing catching the swallow with a good head turn.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on December 21, 2010 at 12:16 AM

Outstanding behavior capture. Your post-processing subtly emphasizes the bird and fish; well done.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 21, 2010 at 9:21 AM

To get a photo of a pied-billed grebe completely above water is hard enough... to get it with prey is real luck! That algae isn't doing you any aesthetic favors but it's interesting habitat and adds some color.

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

Comment posted by Lee fisher on December 21, 2010 at 11:03 AM

superb timing in this shot,
Lee

Registered on September 10, 2010, 13 Posts, 89 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on December 21, 2010 at 12:04 PM

I agree it's an amazing specticle Ron watching the Grebes or Comorants trying to swallow what look like oversize fish but it's incredible what they do devour. The bird position is very good in this image giving a good view of the fish, surely one a day is enough this size! The habitat looks very natural to me. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on December 21, 2010 at 12:23 PM

Ron,
very interesting behavioural shot and beautiful image.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Conway on December 21, 2010 at 12:23 PM

The larger image is a must see. I love the details you've captured in the wet bird.

You are doing some amazing work Ron, thanks for sharing!

Peter

Registered on June 25, 2007, 347 Posts, 3913 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on December 21, 2010 at 2:45 PM

Wonderful behavior shot Ron

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

Comment posted by Sally King on December 21, 2010 at 3:31 PM

Amazing how they can down a large (compared to them) fish like that. I love the details where I can make out all the fish's scales and the glint in that birds eye. The floating pond scum doesn't detarct at all IMO.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 21, 2010 at 9:12 PM

Cool Catch Ron

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on December 21, 2010 at 11:03 PM

Amazing he can get that down! Nicely captured Ron

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 22, 2010 at 6:35 AM

Looks like both you and this Grebe have scored big Ron!!
Excellent work, great catch

Merry Christmas!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on December 22, 2010 at 5:01 PM

Your images are always excellent Ron.