Stretching Western GrebeA stretching Western Grebe – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

This Western Grebe might be the last one I photograph this year because it appears that most of them have migrated for the winter. There was only one Western Grebe on the pond and I took a nice series of images of this particular bird. I’m sure people have seen me get very excited when I write here about my FOY (first of year) or FOS (first of season) birds. I jump up and down when I see my FOY/FOS Tundra Swan or Swainson’s Hawk, Black-chinned Hummingbird or Sandhill Crane. My joy flows over into my images and my posts here on my blog.

It is different though when I think quietly to myself… “Will this be the last Western Grebe I photograph this year?” or “Will I get the opportunity to see just one more before they are gone for the winter?”.

Those thoughts make me reflect back on the birds I photographed during the spring and summer and they make me ask myself questions. “Did I get all the images of them I could have?” or “Should I have been more patient and sat with pairs of the grebes longer and gotten the rushing grebe images I have dreamed of?”.

Then I slowly start to dream about the next year. Looking forward to the future while enjoying every minute of the present.

Just something I think about.

Life is good.

Mia

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