Sometimes in the heat of the moment I get a shot that’s just a little bit different. Maybe even a lot different…
It happened two days ago during a frenetic photo session at the 4-way pond at Farmington Bay MBR. Birds were frolicking, fishing, feeding and fighting, both within species and between species. It mostly involved Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots but there were several species of ducks there too. I ended up taking almost 1500 images in a relatively short time and I’ve barely finished culling them, much less getting them organized in my mind so that I can present what I hope will be some interesting photo stories here on my blog.
But for me the following image deserves stand-alone status, partly because it’s so different from any other photo I’ve taken.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
I like it for the following reasons, in no particular order:
- both the grebe and the coot are sharp
- the interaction/tension between the two birds is palpable
- the unusual “head only” view of the grebe with a nice head turn in good light
- the two birds are very close to each other but completely separated
- I really like the “water well” the grebe’s head is poking out of
- this is silly but it almost looks like the grebe has shaved its lower neck
But the primary reason I like the image is its mystery. It seems to me that the photo begs the question, “What is really going on here?”
So, I’m curious. Does the image make you wonder what’s really happening? I’ll tell you what’s going on in the paragraph below but I’d be interested in any speculation you may (or may not) have about the image before I explain. And were you right?
These two birds had been fighting over a fish. The fish had originally been caught by the grebe but the coot made repeated efforts to steal it and it was successful at least twice but the grebe snatched it back both times. In this image the dead fish had been dropped in front of them (it’s just below the surface where it can’t be seen) and the grebe had just popped up to the surface after becoming partially submerged with its head completely underwater as it looked for it.
The drama didn’t end here. Sometime in the next few days I plan to tell the entire story but there’s so many images involved it may take me more than one post.
Ron
I was wrong also. I thought maybe it was a mixed marriage. I thoght they were looking lovingly at each other. Love the photo and can’t wait for the rest of the story.
I have seen grebes and coots feeding together many times. I think the coots pull up the water plants and displace little fish, and other invertebrates which are what the grebes feed on.
In many situations I thing you’re right, Marilyn. But in this case, as you’ll see on tomorrow’s post, this coot was taking advantage of the activities of the grebe rather than vice versa.
Wondering why/wondering what happened is something I spend a LOT of time on. A follow on from making up stories about the shapes in clouds that I did as a child? (And still do).
I assumed that food was the reason for the close proximity so I was close this time. Close but not right.
Loved Patty’s comment about the close shave, and look forward to hearing more of this story.
The rest of the story should come sometime in the next few days, EC. Maybe tomorrow, I just don’t know yet.
I often see Pied-bill Grebes follow Tricolored Herons as they are feeding. I always assumed the grebe was waiting for the heron to scare something up for the grebe to catch. I never considered it was working the other way around.
Birds are hard to figure out sometimes, that’s for sure. But the more you watch the more it begins to make sense. Usually. Well…, at least sometimes.
Wonderful photo and story. One of my favorite things is to go to Farmington Bay and sit for hours observing birds behavior. I have to go alone because no one else is as entertained by this as me.
“sit for hours observing birds behavior”
Me too, April – you and I share that little quirk!
When I look at this photo, it reminds me of a parent (Coot) looking lovingly at a child (Grebe). For me this is a spectacular photo, partly for the unexpectedness of seeing two different species this close to each other, partly because of the interaction, partly because of facial expressions. And I agree that the Grebe looks like it had shaved its neck. Now I’ll go back and read your last paragraph.
That neck looks a little weird, doesn’t it, Susan?
Captivating photo, Ron! I look forward to the series.
Debbie
I hope it lives up to its billing, Debbie…
Hi! Looks like fishing was so great that it me first and you last at the best fish? We will fight to the finish for the last bite? Ha ha Love the photo and your story! Have a great day! Sybill
Thank you, Hummingbird Lover.
I thought they might be Romeo and Julirt. Pure silliness on our first snowy day here in eastern New Mexico. 🙂
They do look like they have a “thing” for each other, particularly because of the posture of the coot. Enjoy your snow – ours is supposed to arrive tonight. We’ll see…
Great shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Ok Ron – here’s my initial impression. I’m thinking that the grebe had been diving and wasn’t aware of how close it was to the coot when it decided to surface. As for the coot – it looks like it’s saying “Hey fella – you’re invading my personal space!! What’s up with that?!!”. Ok now I’m going to read your last paragraph to see how far off I am – LOL!!
Ok – I WAS WRONG!!! Did love the real story and can’t wait for the continuation of the story!! This was fun, Ron!! Oh – by the way the picture is terrific both before and after I read your explanation of the action!!
Thanks for playing, Jo Ann. And for enjoying it.
What a crazy, bizarre image! I figured it was a squabble of some kind over food but didn’t have a clue what was actually going on…the Coot looks very domineering and threatening….the Grebe looks up to his neck in trouble…AND, it sure does look look like its neck is bare…must be have been a close shave….at least it didn’t panic and lose its head!
.
Patty, the coot was very deliberate in its thievery but being larger it was less agile than the grebe. That little grebe was faster than greased lightning and it took full advantage of its relative speed. But when it (the grebe) had the fish the extra weight was awkward and unwieldy for it and that’s when the coot took advantage.
There are three bad cliches here…did you find them?
As opposed to “good” clichés? 🙂
Figured they might have been having a squabble of some sorts being so close, but it sure was a strange positioning especially for the Grebe who, if you hadn’t previously told us a bit about them, appeared to be on the losing end. 🙂 Wonderful picture and I’m looking forward to the series! Don’t envy you culling THAT batch of photo’s! 🙂
Thanks for the feedback, Judy. And yes, that culling session was a pain in the patoot. And everywhere else. Culling is about the only thing I don’t like to do involving my photography.
Ron – looking forward to this serial. 🐥👀👍🏻
Thanks, Mark. A lot of them won’t be great images but it sure should be interesting behavior.