These two birds fought over the fish for over three minutes.
Disclaimer: This post is more about behavior than it is about quality images. In these photos some of the birds are soft, some are in bad lighting, some are facing away from the viewer and some images have poor composition. In many cases the action happened so fast I was lucky to get birds in the frame at all. And I’ve provided no image techs as I simply ran out of time. (but believe me, I had plenty of shutter speed – usually about 1/3200 sec)
The drama began three days ago at the 4-way pond at Farmington when this Pied-billed Grebe caught a fish. It isn’t a particularly large one but the grebe didn’t swallow it immediately because they often “tenderize” fish with their bill for a while, apparently to make sure it is dead and possibly to break or soften any sharp spines on the fins. In this case waiting was a mistake because…
it didn’t take long for this coot to challenge the grebe for the fish. Coots are larger and slower than these grebes but this one was very deliberate in its approach – the grebe would stop for a moment and make tentative attempts at swallowing the fish but the coot just kept on coming, again and again.
In the past I’ve often seen grebes with food dive or run across the water with it to escape but this one had a different tactic. When the coot got close the grebe would release the dead fish into the water. I can guess several possible reasons for this strategy but that’s all they’d be – just guesses.
In this instance both birds lunged for the fish under the surface at the same time…
but it was the coot that came up with it.
The coot attempted a get-a-way but the grebe stayed so close it was literally riding its back.
When the coot slowed, the grebe lunged for the fish but it was dropped in the water…
so the grebe repeatedly lowered its body and put its head under water to look for it – here it had just raised its head back up. Regular readers will recognize this image from yesterday’s post.
Here the grebe has pulled its head back before plunging it back into the water in another attempt to find the fish first.
The grebe had the advantage because it looked with its head underwater but the coot only gazed down from the surface.
So it was the grebe that came up with the fish.
But it didn’t get far before the coot caught up with it again, grabbed the fish…
and yanked it away.
But the grebe wasn’t about to give up. It swam tightly against the body of the coot and waited for another opportunity…
and when it came…
the grebe snagged the fish and made yet another get-a-way.
It quickly mashed the head of the fish a few times…
and then paused for a moment, almost seeming to dare the coot to to try to steal the fish again before it was swallowed.
But the coot knew when it had been licked and the grebe swallowed the fish very quickly.
Some folks might be surprised to learn that coots eat anything other than aquatic vascular plants and algae but they’re actually omnivorous and often consume aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles and fish. They even occasionally eat carrion, something I’ve seen them do several times in the midst of a harsh winter.
And speaking of winter, I woke up to snow this morning and it’s supposed to continue to fall all day long. That delights me as it’s been a very long time coming.
Ron
Wonderful follow up photos and story of the coot vs the pied. Very entertaining! The snow should add a bit of interest at the bay. I saw a few bald eagles a couple of weeks ago, but what I like the most about the winter is the owls. Snow seems to bring them out during the day at Farmington Bay.
Great series Ron, what a story. It looks like whoever can grab the fish closer to the head is the likely winner, leaving the other bird with only the tail to try and hang on to.
What a wonderful series! Such suspense!
And I was relieved that it had a happy ending.
Congrats on capturing this unusual behavior.
Thanks very much, Steve.
Love this series!!! I am wondering if they could have been playing with the fish, like my poodles do with a toy. The coot appeared to allow the grebe to get the fish the last time. Who knows??? Great fun for me, and I know for you! On another note, we already have about 5-6 inches and it has been snowing all day. I think it has slowed a bit now. This will sure help with the drought, at least if there is enough moisture in it. Thanks for a great blog!
Jane, I just measured 6″ on a table in the back yard and it’s starting to snow again. It sure would be nice to get some water in the Great Salt Lake…
What a brilliant sequence.
I am so glad that justice was (finally) served.
And super impressed that you remembered to take photos. I am pretty certain I would have been too busy gawking.
Thank you.
Hooray for snow(and envious thoughts). We will be HOT here today. And dry.
I remembered to take TOO MANY photos, EC. And paid the price when it came time to cull them. Good luck with your heat…
The fish looks like a catfish of some type from the feelers. 😀 This was a very entertaining series of pictures.
It may very well be a catfish, Arwen. Those barbels are pretty distinctive, though carp have them too.
Ron,
I am new to your blog, having been introduced to it by Howard Sain of Farmington. This contest between the Grebe and the Coot is about the coolest thing I have ever witnessed.
I have been going to Farmington Bay for many years and I am just beginning to realize how much I have been missing.
You are truly a “pro” and the best I have ever seen. Thanks so much for sharing with us amateurs!
Glenn
There’s lots of things to see there if one pays close attention, Glenn.
And thank you for the compliment but really I’m only a very persistent amateur…
I LOVED this series–thanks ! And hurray for that tough and determined little Grebe ! It seems to me that there’s a wonderful elementary school moral lesson in this
series of pictures……….
“The little grebe that could”, Kris…
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS SERIES!!! Full of surprises, tension, excitement and humor….what a cute, tough, determined, persistent little character that grebe proved to be!!! Since it caught that fish in the first place, I’m glad it finally got to swallow it!
Yeah, that grebe was the rightful owner, Patty. Nice to see it come out on top.
You have snow…we have temperatures in the mid 60’s!!!
WOW! What a battle! I was rooting for the grebe the whole way through! And YAY, s/he won!
Me too, Laura. Go underdogs!
The Super Fish-Bowl!
🙂
Great story line and of course great pictures. I’ve never seen anything like that. Could be a great sotry line for a new Disney movie!! Lots of cute and lots of excitement. Loved them.
Thank you, Ellen.
This is a fabulous series, Ron. The Pied-billed Grebe may be a small bird, but it looks to have a huge personality. I just saw a range map that said it should be all over our area. I’ll have to keep an eye out if we ever make it to the nearby wetlands. They seem like they’d be a lot of fun to watch.
“They seem like they’d be a lot of fun to watch.”
They are, Susan. Their personalities are quite mercurial.
Your great images tell a fun story here Ron. I did not know Coot’s would be “aggressive” like this. Thank you.
Ed, I’m like you in that I’ve seldom seen them highly aggressive toward other species, though they’re like hellcats in the spring toward others of their own kind. Coot fights are incredibly vicious.
Congratulations Ron.
Best series ever seen. And don’t be so harsh on yourself. With so much action going on is almost impossible to have everything tac sharp.
Very well done.
Thanks, Jorge. I know you understand the problems with getting high quality images in a situation like this.
Great series and commentary, Ron! 🙂 Never really thought about what coots eat. Nice to see the “little guy” win one. Much needed snow/blow waited until last night to start here.
“Nice to see the “little guy” win one”
I agree, Judy, but these “little guys” are really feisty and that sharp, hooked beak and those strong jaws can deliver a nasty bite so they can definitely take care of themselves. On this same morning I photographed one grebe biting another as they fought over a fish – though the owner of the fish never did relinquish it.
Wonderful story and photos…thank you!
You’re very welcome, Zaphir.
Absolutely fantastic sequence. Hard to believe, really. Congratulations.
I’m delighted that you enjoyed the post so much, Ricardo. Thank you.
OMG, Ron!! I felt like I was watching a movie!! What a wonderful series!! I’m glad the grebe finally ended up with his fish. Such iteresting behaviors in these two.
“I felt like I was watching a movie!!”
Ha, I could almost make a movie out of this because I took so many images of the action, Jo Ann. Most of them were crap but there are a few interesting ones and when threaded together I think they tell a pretty good story.
Hello Ron
I have been following your website for over a year now and am so impressed with the standard of your wildlife photography. I take bird photos on a regular basis and you are my benchmark. Not there yet though!
Anyway I thought your post today was sensational. Brilliant.
Best wishes from a warmish and wet UK – with low light levels.
Keep up the good work!
Dr Mike Beck
Thanks very much, Mike. I’m happy to know you’re “out there” and appreciate the very nice comment.
We’ve been very warm this late fall and early winter too. This snow is needed badly as the Great Salt Lake water level is at a record low and the lake is actually in danger of mostly drying up.