[Leica] IMG: Pied-biled Grebe

[grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey at mchsi.com)]

Doug,

All very nice, hard to pick a best one.

Gene

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Herr" <wildlightphoto at earthlink.net>
To: lug at leica-users.org
Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2012 2:50:27 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: [Leica] IMG: Pied-biled Grebe

This time of year the Sierra Valley (California highway 89 north of Truckee) 
is a spectacular area for breeding birds.  The valley is entirely private 
ranch property, but the community is very aware of the importance to 
wildlife of the area.

Marble Hot Springs road, where I spent Saturday, cuts across the valley and 
through marshes fed by the springs.

One of the highlights of the day was a family of Pied-billed Grebes: an 
adult and four half-grown chicks.  I saw no sign of the other adult.

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/podicipedidae/pbgreb05.html

One of the grebe chicks' favorite games is called Hop On Pop, even if it's 
really Mom:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/podicipedidae/pbgreb06.html

Grebes often carry their chicks on their backs, but these were getting big 
enough that the game will soon be over.

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/podicipedidae/pbgreb07.html

The chicks are constantly looking for a handout:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/podicipedidae/pbgreb08.html

A family portrait:

http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/podicipedidae/pbgreb09.html

Technical stuff:  R8/DMR, shoulder stock, hiding inside an old blue truck.  
Second photo made with 560mm f/6.8 Novoflex Telyt, others made with 280mm 
f/4 APO + 2x APO-Extender-R.  All comments welcome.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com



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