australasian grebe

Australasian Grebe in breeding colors.

The Australian version of our Dabchick, but even smaller. We were now well into the swampy area, with overhanging trees, making for very dappled light... but rather pretty, I thought.

Very similar to, but even smaller than the Little Grebe that we have in the UK. A lovely grebe this one, which doesn't seem to dive just because he sees a camera, unlike our wee Dabchicks LOL

Another awkwardly lit species there, was this Australasian Grebe looking even more fluffy than normal LOL

... for those who were wondering why I called it the Lily Pond. A gorgeous Australasian Grebe and a pretty lily flower.... I was quite pleased with this picture really.

... this may be my best picture so far of any grebe species. We now got out to a part of the reserve named Saw Pits a rather large area of water, but I'm not sure how it got that name. Water is a big draw for creatures anywhere, but particularly in periods of drought in such an arid area anyway.

Seen more often than not while diving .

Oh so like our Little Grebe.... and I do love them. On the first of the lakes in amongst the lily pads.

The Australasian Grebe is so similar to our own Little Grebe. Gorgeous wee grebes these. I rather liked the colours and patterns on the water too.

they were feeding their chicks who stayed inside the reedbed

Peter Day commented that he mostly sees the rear ends of these grebes as they swim away. Here's one in typical rear view, but taking a peek backwards to be sure I wasn't following ;)

In non-breeding plumage. Oh, and another lifer.

This little diving bird is famous for almost not having a tail and being quite noisy at times, so guessing this is why it's gotten this name and if I was to give it a name I would name it exactly the same. Here is the story of my first encounter: I found it in a pond where it was cruising from...

Australasian grebe,s building a nest

I have never before noticed any green on the Grebe's head (normally yellow or white). It's not mentioned in any of my books or any of the sites I looked at on the web. It's presumably in breeding plumage (a la Egrets). Any of the Aussies ever come across this?

Back to our local 'hotspot', Laratinga Wetlands.