This is one of the larger fish I’ve seen a Western Grebe with.
Note: As Bruce Neuman pointed out in a comment below this is a Clark’s Grebe, not a Western Grebe (the black on the head doesn’t surround the eye). Can’t believe I screwed that up – not enough coffee I guess. Thanks for the heads up, Bruce!
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed this grebe 18 days ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge as it swam away from me with a relatively large fish which I believe to be a Channel Catfish (even though I can’t see any barbels or “whiskers”, which may just be too small to see at this young age and at this angle). I think it knew that the fish would be a struggle to swallow so it was swimming to a more secluded spot so it could work in peace on getting it down. I never did see if it was able to swallow the fish.
Sometimes when I’m evaluating an image “little things” mean a lot. Here the fish is the real attention-getter but in my view the large water drop falling down from bill adds subtle but significant interest.
Ron
Love the pic Ron. Including the bird’s reflection.
Thank you, Jean.
So many things in this image drew me in, the size of the fish, the water droplet, how low the grebe is in the water (presumably just up from a dive?), the reflection, and the colour swirls in the water…
Thank you.
“how low the grebe is in the water”
EC, This bird hadn’t just come up to the surface – grebes often ride low in the water like this when they compress their feathers. I wondered if someone might notice that – good eye.
Definitely not a catfish. Looks like a shad; that is one of their main prey fish in most lakes.
Thanks, Monte. One expert who offered his advice on Facebook thinks it’s a member of the herring family, likely introduced.
I like the water drop, too. It took a while to realize that the apparent second drop was probably a reflection. (See, I’m still working on reflections…) After seeing my friend’s photos of a GBH swallowing a very large fish, I’m going to bet that this Grebe managed to swallow the one it has in the photo. Birds’ ability to swallow outsize fish is pretty amazing.
Yes, the other drop is a reflection, Susan. And I’d also bet the this grebe was able to swallow the fish.
I, too, love how the water drop intensifies the focus on the split-second. One of photography’s magical gifts – to be able to gaze on this moment and really take it in! Thanks to you…
“love how the water drop intensifies the focus on the split-second”
Well said, Alison. I hadn’t thought of it in those words but the position and shape of the drop does sort of intensify the frozen instant in time.
I don’t think it’s a catfish, Ron. The evidence of scales behind the dorsal fin and lack of a dorsal fin barbel would eliminate catfish. Also, catfish have skin and would appear smooth and without the spectral scale highlights on the back, sides and belly. My guess would be a White fish. A scaled, forked tailed, cold, freshwater species frequently caught by Trout fishermen plying the bottom portions of streams.They would be found upstream in the river and could easily have found a way to the refuge. Just my two cents.
The Grebe and it’s behavior is wonderfully captured (as usual) and the water is mesmerizing.
You may very well be right, Neil. Some of the things you and others have pointed out have reminded me of things I learned about fish long ago and apparently forgot. Thank you.
Fantastic shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Hey Ron, again I hadn’t noticed the “hugh” drop of water until I read your comments(I tend to scroll thru too fast & go back for a second look after reading all your commnents & everyone’s posts)!! I saw a similar thing yesterday at the North East FL eagle’s nest. The AEF’s cameras are amazing & they were focused on the Mom’s head. She was sleeping, it was raining & there was this drop of water at the end of her beak that made a beautiful image. I wish I knew how to do image captures but that skill is NOT in my wheelhouse – LOL!! I know you are having a wonderful retirement – being able to be out in Nature photographing these beautiful creatures. I’m SO glad you share your results with us!!
Jo Ann, if you have an Apple computer, they have a program called ‘image capture’ which is part of the basic software on the computer. Plus it’s easy to do screen shots with a keyboard shortcut. I decided to see if there was something similar available for PCs and found this link, which is good for Windows systems through XP: http://ccm.net/download/download-11881-window-image-capture. I’d suggest doing a google search to find something you like if you have a PC. Good luck with it.
Jo Ann, I think little things like water drops, water sprays, wakes caused by swimming birds, colors reflected in the water, floating feathers etc etc can make a big positive difference in an image. And no one notices everything in an image at first glance…
Whatever the fish, the grebe sure had a mouthful! Nice detail on the bird/fish and water dripping from it’s mouth. 🙂
Thank you, Judy.
Question: our catfish have blunt-looking tails. This one seems more “forked” than ours. Might ot be some other kind of fish?
Patty, Channel Catfish have distinctly forked tails but I’m no ichthyologist and I’m not certain that I’ve identified the fish correctly. As far as I know the only common fish at Bear River are carp and channel cats and this doesn’t look like a carp…
If I’m wrong on this, and I may be, I’ll be two out of two on misidentifying species in this post. Maybe I should’a stayed in bed…
You’re probably correct…I don’t know your fish. If you’re not right, what you need is a chocolate donut!!! (So do I!)…As the saying goes, “Carp Diem”… 🙂
Never, Ron, never! You should only stay in bed when you’re sick or very tired. Otherwise our days would be duller for lack of your wonderful posts. I know I’m not the only one of your readers whose day is made by reading your posts. 🙂
I love the water drop! Adds a wonderful detail! Gives the whole scene a sense of immediacy. Sometimes it seems as if actually swallowing what one of these water birds have caught is impossible…when you look at the size of their necks/throats and the size of the catch….
Glad you like the water drop, Patty. With your artist’s sensibility that reassures me…
Ron,
I always enjoy your posts. This one looks like a Clark`s Grebe.
Dang, you’re absolutely right, Bruce. Silly mistake because I DO know better. Thanks for pointing it out and I’ll make the correction as best I can.