Takeoff!
Yesterday afternoon I saw this Pied-billed Grebe doing a running takeoff as it launched itself up and out of the marsh pond. The Pied-billed is a duck-like diving bird and I generally only see them floating about in the marsh occasionally diving down to snatch a small fish and then popping back up again. Grebes are not skilled or graceful flyers and it takes considerable effort for a Pied-billed Grebe to get airborne so it was very unusual for me to see one going through the takeoff procedure.
Phil Lanoue Photography 
You’ve captured the effort involved beautifully Phil. I love the way the sun is catching the wings!
Thanks Adrian, I’m happy you like these pics!
Speedy Gonzales? 😉
He sure is speedy! Thanks
I think so! ☺
Great light! Love how the back lighting highlights his wing features on the downstroke.
Thanks much, glad you enjoyed these grebe shots!
Great shots of this little one. The reflections are fantastic!
Thanks Molly, I appreciate your comments!
You arranged the lighting well. All kidding aside…. these are just more of your fantastic shots! Lovely!
I had a full lighting crew out there to help me, it worked out OK but running those generators was annoying the alligators. 😉
Thanks for checking these out! 🙂
…and we certainly do NOT want to annoy the alligators!
No we do not. An angry alligator is no good for anybody.
Great photo, how long did you wait to get a special shot like that?
Thanks, glad you liked these!
I was watching some other birds when out of the corner of my eye I spotted this guy zipping across. I got off three frames, these two plus the third which by then the grebe was mostly behind a tree.
Beautiful light thru the wings.
Thanks I appreciate you looking.
Wow, great shots. Perfectly timed.
Thank you for your very kind comments.
Excellent shot, wonderful light, well done.
I appreciate it Jan, thanks.
Meravigliose !!!!
Buon inizio di settimana,
Luciana
Grazie mille sono contento che ti è piaciuto quelle foto!
I’m afraid I couldn’t help but laugh at these pics, Phil. He looks like a cartoon character. Well captured, and thanks for sharing your stunning photos with me. 🙂
He does look like a cartoon character, that’s one reason these little grebes are so cute! They are the chipmunk of the bird world.
Thanks for checking these out Sylvia!
Hello Phil,
perfect captured!!! Great shots!
Wish you a nice day
moni
Thanks moni I appreciate you looking and commenting!
The water splash is stunning! The Grebe has a great focus, it shows… Amazing shot, Phil!
Thank you much for the kind words Amy!
That’s wonderful, Phil. I love the reflection in the second photo.
PS Parla l’Italiano, Lei ? Che meraviglia :). Patricia
So happy you like these photos Patricia, thanks very much!
Io in realtà non parla italiano molto bene, ho bisogno di un piccolo aiuto 😉 🙂
nice!
Thanks!
Cool action shots! I like how you were able to capture those splashes of water behind the bird.
Thank you, I’m so glad you liked these pics!