Western Grebes - Feeding Time

Gallery: AvianPosted June 22, 20071,872 views25 comments

Pelican Lake, Manitoba

Canon EOS 1D Mark III, 600mm f4
ISO 400, f6.3 @ 1/125 sec

This is one of the first pairs to hatch their young at Pelican Lake this year. Normally the male does most of the fishing while the female carries the fledglings on her back, but in the case dad is carrying the three youngsters (only two visible) while mom brings in the snacks.

Comments

25 comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on June 22, 2007 at 12:30 PM

Just a superb shot! Excellent all around image

Not sure if a small crop off the bottom would help any, but I thought I'd throw the suggestion out there...

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on June 22, 2007 at 12:35 PM

Doug, Great timing and a wonderful image.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Doug Backlund on June 22, 2007 at 3:04 PM

Doug: This is a real winner! Great shot. I love it.

Registered on September 29, 2005, 252 Posts, 3380 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Wong on June 22, 2007 at 3:12 PM

wow, you really captured the emotion of this scene. great shot.

Registered on February 2, 2006, 79 Posts, 2629 Comments

Comment posted by Juza on June 22, 2007 at 4:01 PM

Sweet photo Doug!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 374 Posts, 10466 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on June 22, 2007 at 4:14 PM

Great shot

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on June 22, 2007 at 4:20 PM

I'm back again for another visit - this shot just rocks!

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by David Williams on June 22, 2007 at 4:43 PM

This is gorgeous, Doug. I haven't found any Westerns or Clarks with chicks yet.....way to go.

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Merigan on June 22, 2007 at 7:53 PM

I like the team action.

Tom Merigan
Portola Valley,CA

Registered on April 24, 2006, 69 Posts, 751 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on June 22, 2007 at 8:39 PM

By coincidence, I photographed Horned Grebes last night with Dad feeding the kid on Mom's back, but the shot isn't nearly as sharp or well-composed as yours. But the experience gives me added appreciation for how hard it is to get as elegant a shot as this. Very nice work.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on June 22, 2007 at 9:10 PM

A very nice moment captured here. Your usual excellent composition as well. Can you bring down the brightness of the breast a little? - it is rather hot and unfortunate that it is so close to the center of interest.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Mack Barham on June 22, 2007 at 9:27 PM

Wonderful capture I love the open mouth of the chick!

Registered on August 12, 2005, 537 Posts, 1107 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on June 23, 2007 at 12:18 AM

This is a great image. Perhaps my favorite image of this species. I love the red eyes. It really grabs your attention.

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Fusco on June 23, 2007 at 8:30 AM

Nice shot, Doug.
Great behavior and the little guy reaching for the fish is cool.

- Paul

Registered on November 17, 2003, 283 Posts, 1163 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on June 23, 2007 at 5:48 PM

Terrific image Doug, congrats

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on June 24, 2007 at 9:34 PM

Fantastic shot!! The red of the adult eyes and interior of fledgling's bill and the lack of red in the fledgling's eyes captured my attention. I can't find anything in my bird books about developmental changes in eye color. Is the lack of color real or because of light angle?

David Sparks

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on June 25, 2007 at 9:08 AM

Excellent shot, Doug...

Congratulations!

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on June 25, 2007 at 12:48 PM

What a shot! Lots of expression going on: hunger, survival, parenting. Even the water has expression. Just beautiful Doug and congrats on the pick.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on June 25, 2007 at 10:08 PM

Hi Doug,

An absolutely wonderful image! I really like virtually everything about this image, from the sharp foreground gradually transitioning into beautiful out-of-focus zones through to the great timing of the chick reaching for the food. Absolutely wonderful!

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on June 26, 2007 at 8:41 PM

Great shot! Love the interaction. Congratulations on the pick.

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Carol Hyman on June 26, 2007 at 11:54 PM

Great composition and good coloring Doug.

Carol

Registered on January 18, 2007, 597 Posts, 8062 Comments

Comment posted by David Kjaer on June 29, 2007 at 12:47 PM

Beautiful shot in fantastic light - I love it!

David

Registered on January 4, 2006, 128 Posts, 4170 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Fach on June 29, 2007 at 10:59 PM

Doug: I'm not a bird guy but this transcends genre. Just a wonderful image in so many ways. Congrats on the EP >=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on July 1, 2007 at 6:09 PM

Wonderful image.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on July 4, 2007 at 8:40 AM

I believe in family and you showed it in this beautiful shot. Well done Doug and congrats on a well deserved EP.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments