I had had a nice (but smoky) morning walking the nature loop. I got a few nice but unremarkable shots of familiar birds. But also some deer. I was satisfied. Then, on the way out, I decided to drive along the paved road to the east - I've had good luck there in the past. Got a few more nice shots. Then, just before I exited, I saw a car pulled over to get a shot of a Great Blue Heron... I thought. I pulled over too, and got a shot.
Nearby were some unremarkable Pied-Billed Grebes... I thought. I saw a light colored flash in the beak of one. Oh, he has a fish... I thought. When I got my camera up, I said to myself, "Holy #$%#, that's a frog!" Then, after following it a bit, I thought to myself again "Holy #$%#, that frog is BIG!"
Then I watched for a while as that Grebe tried to get it down. His strategy was to get it positioned just right, then extend his neck upwards, then gulp. It took quite a while, but it was finally successful. I could barely believe that small Grebe swallowed that big frog. But it did! I doubt that Grebe needed to do any more fishing today.
IDs are with each image. VIEW LARGE for best impact.
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Pied-Billed Grebe
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Savannah Sparrow
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Tracks in the mud
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Mule Deer, doe and fawn
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Mule Deer
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Mule Deer
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Red-winged Blackbirds, male and female
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American White Pelican, wobbling its throat to get its prey pointed in the right direction
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Great Egret
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White-faced Ibis, apparently doing the hokey pokey
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Great Blue Heron, in stealthy fishing mode
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Pied-Billed Grebe and frog
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Pied-Billed Grebe and BIG frog
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Pied-Billed Grebe, playing keep away with juveniles
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Pied-Billed Grebe, with the frog finally started down
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Pied-Billed Grebe and frog feet (all that's left)
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White-faced Ibis. I love that iridescent quality of its feathers.
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| Swainson's Hawk, on a sound barrier near the interstate |
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