Pied-billed Grebe bathing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
While I was at Farmington Bay two days ago in between photographing the Common Mergansers I shared yesterday I also photographed a few Pied-billed Grebes. Pied-billed Grebes are year round residents in Utah and will only leave the area where they are located during the winter when the water freezes over. It has been an odd year here with brief freezes then thaws so these little grebes have stuck around.
When I saw this Pied-billed Grebe bathing at Farmington Bay I couldn’t resist photographing it as it splashed water all over itself.
Bathing Pied-billed Grebe – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
It is hard to see in my photos but the grebe’s wings where half submerged under the water and the grebe was fluttering them which caused the water to splash up. The grebe also dipped its entire body into the water once but the only photo I have of that is splashing water and a tiny glimpse of the bird.
Pied-billed Grebe splashing water while bathing – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Pied-billed Grebe didn’t bathe for very long so I am glad I kept firing in a very long burst while it splashed around.
I love that I can fire very long bursts with the Nikon D500 without having to worry about my buffer filling up, it hasn’t happened to me once in the field since I got the D500.
Pied-billed Grebe after a bath – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When the grebe was finished bathing and stopped fluttering its wings I was able to get a few images of it like the one above as I waited for it to flap its wings which they normally do after bathing.
But the grebe turned its back to me just before it flapped its wings. I believe I called it a little turd for doing that.
Ah well. Life is good and it is better with birds in it.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Pied-billed Grebe photos plus facts and information about this species.
Coming from rehabbing wildlife experience there are 2 birds I just love how they feel in my hand. One is the Pied Grebe and the other Ruddy Ducks. They both have a wonderful round plump body that fits well in my hands. Holding them always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling (Don’t get me wrong I don’t hold them often, we avoid unnecessary contact with patients ). I often wonder if any other rehabbers or aviary keepers have had the same feeling. Pied Grebes make me smile when I see them in the wild.
Yes, very cute bird I was unfamiliar with. And more unusual weather, I agree. Some snow this morning and rain this evening.
This bird looks so darned cute!!! Considering the time of year and how cold that water must be, I wonder how much of that icy stuff reaches their skin…or if it’s just the outer feathers, not the down or rhe skin that gets wet…
Pied-billed Grebes are one of my favourite birds. They are just so darn cute. Great photos.