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Eared grebes breed on northern lakes; in the winter they inhabit both fresh and salt water habitats in the southern US (sometimes in enormous numbers, as on Mono Lake during migration). The winter plumage on this page lacks the flashy head plumes and black neck coloration seen in breeding birds (the individual in the upper right image is in transition), but in any plumage these little grebes have an alert, active behavior and startlingly red or orange eyes. Grebes feed by diving and can catch surprisingly large fish (below right), and although the photo at bottom right doesn't show much detail, I like the 'frozen' water drops and the sense of complete waterproofing of the plumage. The photo at upper left was taken in Palo Alto, California (as were several images below); all the other photos were taken at Bolsa Chica wetlands, in coastal Orange County, California. |
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