RH Speirs | Photographer - Red-necked Grebes 13

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 20th

Red-necked Grebe pair mating, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 20th

Not a bad pose here (below), but I just missed getting tack-sharp focus on the subject in this photo. It can happen quite easily when the subject is in motion, and the lighting is fairly low like it was here. I guess that's why I keep trying to capture these similar moments over and over again, until I get it perfect.

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 20th

The perimeter of the pond, in which the Grebe's nest is situated, is lined with plant such as reads/cattails. There are only two locations, at the water's edge, in fairly close proximity to the nest, and where the plant life has been cleared somewhat (by beavers I think), a meter or two wide/across, and you can actually get in and take relatively low angle shots from. At only one of those two locations can you achieve an extremely low angle shot such as this one below. Also, the nest itself has some sparse plant life around it, as you can see, limiting options for photos as well. I've observed that the nest isn't treated as if it has a front and a back to it by the Grebes, meaning when the switch out incubating duty of the eggs, every couple of hours or so, they'll plop themselves down atop the nest in any and every direction thy see fit. So it's just luck of the draw when you have your camera all set up, they do the switch, and the new replacement Grebe ends up facing the camera afterwards. It's a pretty low percentage chance, if you think about it, that they'll be facing the ideal direction. Anyway, with some patients, and persistence I managed to get this shot from only extremely low angle friendly position possible. They can't really be positioned any better really..pretty fortunate. That folded over plant life, hanging right over them, kind of bugs me..but what are you gonna do about that lol.

Red-necked Grebe pair mating, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 20th

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 20th

Not ideal capturing the backside of subjects I know, but I included this photo into the gallery for the water droplets streaking outward from them. Kind of reminds me of the way fireworks look, and this did occur just a moment after the magic of creating new life.

Red-necked Grebe pair, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Red-necked Grebe pair mating, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Red-necked Grebe pair, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Red-necked Grebe pair mating, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

I like the rim lighting on the subjects (below), and I like the backlit water droplets in this photo, and I really like their reflection in the water!

Red-necked Grebe pair, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Fairly happy with this capture..nice pose (below), and nice low angle.

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Always a good idea to check for potential danger coming from above every once in a while (below).

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Red-necked Grebe pair, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

Red-necked Grebe pair mating, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 21st

I managed to get some pretty decent close up shots of the Grebes and their nest on the few days prior (above), so I decided to zoom out a little to a wider focal length for the photos captured on the 23rd (below), to capture a little more of their environment.

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 23rd

Red-necked Grebe pair, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 23rd

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 23rd

This next photo (below) shows two eggs clearly visible in the nest.

Red-necked Grebe, Marshall Springs ponds, Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB - June 25th

Red-necked Grebes 13 - Calgary, AB

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