Great Crested Grebes
Last summer a local pair of nesting Great Crested Grebes had successfully bred, raising a few youngsters. The site is a fantastic place for photographing waterfowl as it has low banks, grassy verges and a variety of species throughout the seasons. Grebes are generally quite shy waterbirds and it’s often hard approaching them or getting into the right position but this pair (or at least one of the adults) were more obliging than usual, especially when the focus for them was to catch as much fish as possible to feed the youngsters. From late summer I managed to get down to them on many occasions, allowing me to try out different shots and behaviour.
One particular side of the lake was situated perfectly for great shots in the late afternoon sun, as well as a few large trees in the background providing a nice colourful reflection. The grass along the verges of the bank was also quite tall adding to a nice clean background. Water levels on the lake were quite low this time of year revealing the dry gravel bed, which really helped with getting into the right spot as you could be pretty much level with the water and comfortable, not having to worry about getting wet or muddy.
This one grebe often swam into this ‘gold spot’ for photos as I call it and it was just a matter of fieldcraft and timing to get it swimming through this beautiful and calm spot.
Usually the grebes catch fish further out on the lake but one time I spotted one diving quite close to the bank. Using the ‘dive and dash’ technique I was able to get this grebe as it caught a fish. By waiting for it to dive and then quickly moving into position and laying down I managed to watch it repeatedly dive for fish until it finally resurfaced with a catch. We were both rewarded, the grebe with it’s prize and me with a nice selection of shots I’m quite pleased with.
Towards the last hour of sunlight before it dropped behind the trees there was a nice glow on lake and it was really fun spending some time with them when they were more relaxed and I could get some simpler poses.
Compared to the colours and reflections from the evening sun, the overcast sky is often a time disregarded as ‘good’ for photography but with waterbirds I find it is also great. The nice grey and white times on the water help the birds to stand out and gives a more moody feel to the setting.
The final set of shots is of the grebe family together, both adults and it’s only chick from a second brood which was really surprising this late. It was cool watching one of the adults swim up to the chick and so gently and with so much care as they would pass the small fish to the chick while it was still on it’s other parents back, however one time the parent did raise up and stretch it’s wings which at the same time kicked the chick off it’s back but they still continued to keep it safe. Grebes definitely show a lot of protective behaviour to their young and this type is quite unique about birds.