Arrival of the Western Grebes

This is the time of the year when you go for a walk at the San Elijo Lagoon, you may be rewarded with a sight of some newly arrived birds. Yes, this is the season we have been waiting for, the time of migration when we see new visitors every day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I was delighted to spot a pair of Western Grebes swimming down the main tide channel of our beautiful Lagoon.

Western Grebe..."Aechmophorus occidentalis". They measure 25 inches long with a wing span of 24 inches.

They are the largest of the Grebes.

 

They breed on large lakes and winters on the coastal estuaries and shallow bays.

 

They are well adapted for living in water and diving for prey. All grebes have lobed toes which are great for propulsion and steering underwater. Usually they are found foraging near the surface of the water but they can dive as deep as 90 ft when they are at sea or
on large lakes.

 

Western Grebe's can be confused with Clark's Grebes. The Western Grebe has black marking on his crown and head which extends below the eyes and Clarks Grebe will
have white around the eyes with the black marking from his head reaching down only to
the eyebrow.

 

On the Western Grebe, the beak is olive /yellow in color and the shape is dagger like.
They mostly eat fish... catching them with their bill but they can also use it as a spear
to catch their prey. 

 

Interesting fact about these grebes is that they ingest a lot of their own feathers (taken from belly and flank area). It is thought to be to pad their stomach from sharp fish bones and
fins and also as a base material for pellet castings. *(All info. from the Sibley Guide to bird life & behavior.)

 

They have been observed diving for fish at night but also seen hunting during the day.
But most of the time when I have observed them, they are usually sleeping on the water. However,  I have never seen them on land.

 

Two winters ago, as I was standing on the bridge photographing birds when I captured a Western Grebe diving and chasing after a school of fish. The fish were in a panic and breaking the surface of the water. The splash and the ring of turbulence behind the bird
is from his powerful giant flipper like lobed toes. The Grebe twists and turns
underwater hunting his prey.

 

The Grebe is moving with amazing speed. I have fished quite a bit in my life and I have to say the Grebe moved as fast as a billfish going after bait but with the neck of a rattlesnake ready to strike! Look at the fish evading capture by skipping across the surface!

 

This photo is a split second before he breaks the surface of the water.. he's body is like a torpedo coming to the surface...you can see the water displacement as it hugs his body.

 

He breaks the surface and at this angle, you can see that he has the perfect feet ( lobed toes) to help him dive and move with so much power underwater..but there is a price to
pay for being a super swimmer. The leg placement on the Western Grebe is so far back
on his body, to give him maximum swimming and diving ablility, the grebe is not capable of
walking on land. This photo shows the lobed toes and how far back the legs are set on its body.

 

As the two Western Grebes swim out of camera range, I walk to the far south end of the trail looking for other bird subjects. There are lots of Mallards resting and foraging along the bank of the tide channel.. A beautiful male Mallard shows off his new breeding plumage

 

This drake appears that he already has a mate. The female Mallard is sticking close by.

 

I spot a California Clapper Rail out foraging right below the trail. The tide is coming in fast and the lagoon is looking like a lake again.

 

He shows us that he also can forage underwater...LOL, just his head of course.

 

As he swims off to find more tasty treats, I am ready to head for home...

 

On my way back to the parking lot... I see a flock of ducks fly by.. and another surprise! They are American Wigeons and Northern Pintails! First sighting for me this year!

 

Have a good Tuesday everyone.