Revving the Engines

I've seen a lot of PBGs, but never one in flight.  This is a real nice look of one taking off: the detail is nice, as is the lighting around the eye.  You caught it in a nice position with one leg up and one in the water-catching the water splash.  The reflection is very good, particularly considering the action going on. 

As Allen mentioned, I also have never seen this species in take-off mode.  I am used to them just diving when I get too close.  I really like this.  Very sharp and with some pretty good light.  Your fast shutter speed was perfect to freeze the action, including all those nice water droplets.  The water is quite unique - not sure if those dark swirls above the bird are reflections, but I do like them.  Also, nice reflection of the grebe.

It's extremely rare to see one of these in flight and I think I've only seen one, when I didn't have my camera of course.  I think this is a very cool image with superb lighting and a really cool reflection.

This is sweet, Ed.  I've never seen one actually take off and you caught a great wing position with lovely light and a superb reflection.  My only nit is that I think the landscape presentation with more room to move into and less room on the top might work even better, but it's a great image as posted.

I agree with Dennis. since you cropped it this way, do you have room on the right?

This gives a great view of the Pied-Billed Grebe hardly ever seen. By that, I mean the body structure as well as the flight pose. I don't see how this little guy can ever walk, with its legs clear back to its bottom, but it is well made for swimming, diving and flying.

This is great Ed, love the action and reflection, not a common shot to get. 

Like the others, I've never seen a PBG doing this.  The detail is beautiful, as is the reflection.  The light is also beautiful, but I'm still torn between seeing that it's beautiful and wishing that the water was just a little less dark.