These birds are well known for their very elaborate courtship display, lots of head bobbing, head waving and it finishes with the two birds stood up on the water breast to breast. The male bird also brings gifts of branches and nest making material to the female. It is a very interesting thing to watch and I have been lucky enough to have seen it a few times in the past.
So today I thought I would go and try and get a nice shot of them performing this display. That was the plan. However reality was rather different. I found the birds, but they spend most of the time quite a long way away, on the other side of the lake. However they did come across to my side of the lake, quite close, and even started the first part of their display, but instead of performing right in front of me, they were off to my right, hidden behind some trees and bushes. I could see them but photography was almost impossible as even if I managed to focus through the trees, it looked like they were behind a thick wire mesh fence.
Add to these problems, horrible gloomy skies, terrible light, and heavy pouring rain which you can see bouncing back up off the lakes surface.
So this is the best you are going to get today.
I hope to get some time and slightly better weather soon to have another go, before the display season finishes.
The male with his large head tufts is on the the left here.
Not what you were hoping for perhaps, but still an interesting shot. I am constantly amazed by all the weird and wonderful variety of behaviours and appearance that nature has come up with.
I would love to see these Grebes I've never been fortunate enough to even catch a glimpse of them...You still managed a good shot even though the weather Gods were not in the best of moods...Great capture Mark! :)
