The gentle paddling of this Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) produced such wonderful patterns in the water that it was easy to fight the temptation to crop this image more closely. This is another one of the waterbirds that appeared recently at a pond in a nearby suburban neighborhood.
Virtually all of the visiting birds are skittish enough that they will swim away toward the center of the pond as I approach. Fortunately for me they swim a lot more slowly than they fly, so I generally have a chance to track them as they swim, hoping they will turn their heads periodically to the side.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
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I think grebes are among the hardest to photograph because of their diving. Yesterday I found some, but the time between dives was only seconds. Perhaps there was something especially tasty to eat under the surface of the water. They are cute, no question about that.
I love it when they appear still, but the feet are moving up a storm under them. Great shot.