Grebes are all gorgeous and this little one was especially cute as it floated around the lily pond while preening.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
This fluffy-end view is typical of the shots I usually get of Australasian Grebe so I was stoked to watch this sweet bird preening and capture some other shots at the lily pond.
They are also known as Australian Little Grebe as they are only about 26cm.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
It was so peaceful to watch as the grebe carefully preened it beautiful feathers. These are the breeding colours, male and female. Non-breeding birds are much duller, mainly dark grey above and light grey below with a white bare skin patch at the base of the bill.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
Their breeding colours are vibrant. Their heads become a glossy black with a bold chestnut stripe. The bare skin near their bill becomes a light yellow and is more obvious.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
Occasionally it peeked my way as it swirled. As it preened it spread oil from its uropygial gland evenly across its feathers to ensure they stay waterproof.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
I love the shot above! Birds often stretch during preening and this grebe’s outstretched foot and lifted wings looked very graceful.
They eat small fish and aquatic insects which they capture, mainly, when diving. They dive, rather than fly, when they are disturbed.
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400 L IS USM EXT
And then it floated back among the lily leaves, giving me another view of its fluffy end.
It was amazing to get out and about with a lovely friend and a long lens.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
Hi Kim,
I love your terrific photos of the grebe.
I am eagerly waiting for breeding to commence, as I have never seen the babies with their parents. As lockdown allows, I will be visiting them regularly.
I am fascinated by their biology – what amazing birds!
Oh I hope you get to see that Gwyn, chicks snuggled on their parents’ backs is a truly wonderful sight.
So cute! I love the fluffy bum! Reminds me of a corgi 🙂
Now I’m going to have to google corgis to check what you mean 🙂
Ah, fluffy white bottoms!
Just gorgeous Kim, great way to begin my Easter Saturday morning, thankyou and wishing you good health and happiness.
I hope you had a lovely Easter Alison, and good health and happiness to you too!
Great shots of a very appealing little resident of Australia’s wetland. I am indebted to Sue (Elephant’s Child) for the link to your blog.
Hi David, how lovely of Sue to let you know about lirralirra, good to meet you. I find grebes very appealing too.
Proof positive (not that I require any) that butt shots can be totally charming. And that bird butts appeal to me much more than the sights I see involving low riding underwear and our species.
I couldn’t agree more EC!