Horned Grebe, Monroe Harbor 4/5/13
Within the last week or so, the Horned Grebes hanging around Monroe Harbor just north of the Chicago Yacht Club have undergone their transformation into breeding plumage.
Horned Grebe, Monroe Harbor 3/26/13
Only a glimmer of color was beginning to show on March 26.
Pair of Horned Grebes, 3/28/13
And two days later I took the picture above. Then on Friday, two males were diving and swimming around in the water by the boat docks. They must recognize me by now because they were easier to photograph. Indeed one kept fishing in my direction.
In the picture below, he almost appears to be smiling.
With the next shutter click, he was diving after whatever it was he was smiling about.
I hope he got whatever it was he was after.
Also on Friday, yacht club workers were starting to line up buoys to put in the water. With the increase in human activity, I suspect it was my last chance to see the grebes this season. Good luck fishing and breeding, my litttle grebe friends!
Great post and photos. Grebes are little cuties. We have mostly the Pied-billed, with an occasional Eared Grebe. Thanks for sharing these, Lisa.
Thanks, Bob! I love Grebes, especially Pied-Billeds, they remind me of little rubber duckies (not that I think I ever had one). But although they’re fairly common in the summer and I often see them, I hardly ever get as close to them as I do these little Horned guys that love the lakefront. We sometimes get Eared but they’re more of a rarity. 🙂
The goldfinches have changed to their bright summer colors as well.
I found myself wishing I could reply to you with pictures – so I’m going to do a short post with pictures of Goldfinches from the yard yesterday!
photos are fabulous..you have capture the Grebes as well as the expressive motion of the water around them. Well Done!!
Oh thank you, Syl! Or thank the Grebes for holding their own in what were choppy waters, it was windy the past couple days. Some of the Merganser pictures I took on Friday looked like abstract art, the birds were so blown around. 🙂