Least Grebe's

I thought I would share a couple images of a uncommon straggler to SE Arizona this winter. We were visiting Pena Blanca lake west of Nogales when we spotted these Least Grebe's. I counted around 5-6 of them and one of the interesting observations was their feet. I did not know Grebe's had web type feet and do not know if this is typical of grebe's.
Jim

Least grebe's feet

To the best of my knowledge most, if not all, grebes have these lobed toes instead of the full webbing seen on ducks, geese, and swans. Nice catch.

Peter is correct about the grebes, coots also have lobed toes. Here's a Pied-billed Grebe showing its lobes.

Thanks for the feedback, I did not know this, seems like you learn something new every week in the birding world.
Jim

wow--really cool pics, Jim! thanks for posting!

Least Grebe in AZ is a fairly recent event. I was lucky to see one in February of 1995 at Picaccho Reservoir east of Casa Grande, and it was a bird that lots of people chased. Then in 2002 one spent the winter at Sweetwater in Tucson. They showed up at Pena Blanca Lake in 2010 or so and we had confirmed breeding. There was some fear last year that boys with guns at Pena Blanca had shot the grebes so we were all glad to see them still there this winter.

Lobed feet are one of the characteristics that separate grebes from ducks, along with having legs far back on the body.

Thanks Rich, interesting to read about the grebe's appearance in SE AZ.