ID CHALLENGE 3 August 2020: L Plate by Sonja Ross
This isn’t the usual view of these birds. They are widespread where there is suitable habitat. I photographed these two at Ballarat, Victoria. They are distinctive, so no more clues!
Solution:
Even though this is an unusual view, it seems everyone recognised this pair as Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus. With their facial markings and colouring, and also their size they are difficult to confuse with any other species. When they are in breeding plumage the crests add to this. I think the male has the larger crest.
Their legs are set back which is ideal for life in the water, but awkward on land so they are seldom seen out of water. This is the only time I have seen them in flight, and have read that other species of Grebe fly at night, so maybe these do too.
They have interesting feet which are lobed.
I went to Lake Wendouree as I’d heard that their was breeding happening, and have put a few photos from a sequence I took of a pair courting which is really special to watch. They aren’t quite in the same class as Western Grebes and Clark’s Grebes in the U.S., but still lovely. The quality of the photos has suffered a bit in being processed a couple of times in being made into the little movie, so apologies for that.
Learn more about them here: http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/great-crested-grebe
Women Birders Australia 