Grebes in the Rain

[yourlibrarian]

We have seen grebes many times but very often they are solo or there may be two. It was unusual to see a group swimming together, which this one did for some time.




For some strange reason, they made Three Little Maids from School start playing in my head. There was actually a fifth about which joined in a bit later.





The moon actually looked quite bright in the sky and was nice to see with the sunset. But it seems trying to capture its effect on a general scene generally ends up like this, with just a spot of light in the sky.

Comments

[kaishin108]

How fun to see so many together! They are so pretty, no more like 'cute'. :)

[pauraque]

Aw, Pied-billed Grebes! I love them and their teeny little bills.

[vriddy]

That final picture looks truly incredible, wow!!

[adore]

They're so fluffy!

[shirebound]

I enjoy your photos so much. Swim on, little grebes!

[puddleshark]

Nice weather for Grebes!

Lovely shots - thank you!

[sparowe]

What interesting faces they have! :)

[chestnut_pod]

They're so cute.

[yourlibrarian]

They're very cute, I think the size is a factor 😊

[yourlibrarian]

Yes, and the markings make them look smaller it seems.

[yourlibrarian]

Glad you liked it!

[yourlibrarian]

Hee!

[yourlibrarian]

Heh, they're well suited to being wet.

[yourlibrarian]

They do have markings that make them seem more expressive.

[yourlibrarian]

We like spotting them, especially as while they're a regular sight they aren't always around.

[yourlibrarian]

Aw thanks!

[full_metal_ox]

They're very cute, I think the size is a factor 😊

That and their large heads and eyes relative to body size and short beaks, suggesting childlike and therefore cute proportions.

(The late Stephen Jay Gould famously wrote an essay on how neoteny—the retention of juvenile characteristics into adulthood—has influenced the evolution of Mickey Mouse’s character design: https://faculty.uca.edu/benw/biol4415/papers/Mickey.pdf)

And congratulations on capturing not only the neat rectangular formation of grebes but the intricate rippling of the water.

[turlough]

I was fascinated by your photos of the grebes. I'd no idea grebes could look like that! The only grebe I've ever seen here in Sweden is the great crested grebe and yours don't look anything like that at all! A bit of hunting online told me yours are called Pied-billed grebes and only occur in the Americas.

It's SO HARD to photograph the moon! I never seem to succeed. Your photo is lovely however.

[yourlibrarian]

Yes! I've been able to get good photos of the moon directly, but when I try to get it in a wider setting, it never has the same impact compared to what I see.

[yourlibrarian]

Ooh, learned a new term 😆 Agreed, it's a factor.

Yes, I liked the water texture in the shots as well, almost like designs!