Clark's Grebes Nest at Bear River MBR - Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

It won’t be long before the high, scratchy kweea kweea calls of Clark’s Grebes are heard in Utah’s Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge if they haven’t already arrived. I haven’t been to Bear River MBR in a while. (I checked on the Bear River MBR site and at least 18 Western Grebes and 16 Clark’s Grebes have been seen there recently)

Clark’s Grebe at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

I think that Clark’s Grebes are striking birds with their long graceful necks, black crowns, sharp bright yellow to orange-yellow bills, lovely white, gray and black plumage and those brilliant cherry-red eyes. Clark’s Grebes nest at Bear River MBR where they build floating nests with emergent vegetation. The young are able to swim not long after hatching and like other grebe young they do ride on the adult’s backs.

Clark’s Grebes are rarely seen in flight because they dive and swim to get away from predators and they only migrate at night. I’d still love to see one in flight and capture their mating display called “rushing”.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Clark’s Grebe photos plus facts and information about this species.

17 Comments

Larry Jordan April 11, 2012 at 8:04 am

Beautiful shot of the Clark’s Grebe Mia. I love these birds and am so lucky that they breed nearby in Northern California. In case you or your readers haven’t seen one of my favorite videos of the grebe dance was done by the BBC and can be seen on youtube here. Unfortunately, they have shortened the video which used to show a much lengthier version.
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:27 am
  
  Thanks for the link to the video Larry, the rushing dance is fascinating.
Ingrid April 11, 2012 at 1:33 am

Mia, do you know if the Clark’s Grebes have identical courtship rituals to the Western Grebes? That’s still something I look forward to seeing in person. I’ve seen just one Western Grebe engaging in what can only be described as a spastic version of a courtship dance. It was so bad, I worried for his well-being but a bird expert assured me he was fine, just a little off kilter.
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:24 am
  
  Ingrid, according to Birds of North America Western and Clark’s Grebes do have identical courtship rituals with the exception of their advertizing calls, one has a single note and the other a double note.
  
  The courtship ceremonies in which these birds perform a series of displays in ritualized, apparently mechanical, sequences are among the most complex known in birds.
  Perhaps even more remarkable is the fact that, with one exception, the rituals of these two species are identical. The exception is the number of notes, one or two, in the Advertising call; yet this, plus differences in bill color and facial pattern, are enough for individuals to recognize birds of their own species and to choose them as mates. Discovery of this preferential mating led to several valuable studies of the degree of relationship between the two forms and to their recognition as distinct species rather than color phases of the same species.
Susan April 10, 2012 at 8:11 pm

What a lovely bird, I’ll have to watch for this one, thanks for sharing.
Tammy Karr April 10, 2012 at 6:23 pm

What a gorgeous grebe! Love that red eye!
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:20 am
  
  I love their red eyes too Tammy, it makes me think of Marashino Cherries. Thank you.
Carol Mattingly April 10, 2012 at 5:38 pm

This is one cool looking bird Mia. Thanks so much for sharing this. Carol
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:19 am
  
  They are cool looking birds Carol! Thank you for commenting.
Bob Zeller April 10, 2012 at 5:18 pm

Another of your great photos, Mia. I have never seen a Clark’s Grebe. We do get get the Pied-billed, the Eared, and the occasional Horned Grebe. All of them are fascinating birds.
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:19 am
  
  I agree Bob, all of the Grebes are fascinating birds. Thanks so much for your comment.
Scott Simmons April 10, 2012 at 12:27 pm

Lovely shot! One of these days I need to make it out that way…
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:18 am
  
  Scott, you would love photographing all the birds out this way!
judy watson April 10, 2012 at 6:19 am

Beautiful!
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:18 am
  
  Thank you Judy!
David Sparks April 10, 2012 at 5:11 am

Love the red eye, black cap, and blue in the ripples.
The Clark’s Grebe is high on my list of birds/photos to acquire.
Dave
- Mia McPherson April 12, 2012 at 9:18 am
  
  Dave, I hope that you get to see and photograph Clark’s Grebes soon, they are so beautiful and great to observe and photograph.

Clark’s Grebes Nest at Bear River MBR

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