ed. note: Today, we have a guest blogger from the land of Florida, David Peterson. I invited him to join us after he showed me the coolest photo of grebe feet in action I've ever seen!
 |
| Horned Grebe in winter plumage (Photo by David Peterson) |
After running a few errands today, I stopped at a local beach, called Hudson Beach (officially
Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park). I wasn't really expecting much more than to relax and enjoy the day, when a walk along the seawall gave me a very pleasant surprise. A little horned grebe was fishing right along shore, and did not seem to mind me walking up and down the seawall trying to get a couple pictures of it. I must have taken about a hundred photos, but I missed at least that many opportunities for more because I simply enjoyed watching it and forgot to point the camera. I was enthralled for over an hour.
 |
Horned Grebe (Photo by David Peterson)
|
Then, while in pursuit of some small silvery fish, it came quite close, and I snapped a bunch of photos while it was diving underwater. When it went further away from shore again, I stopped and checked to see if any had turned out, you should have seen me—I literally jumped and gave a hoot, with the fist-pump and everything! A couple people looked at me like I was weird and one guy just chuckled away at me but gave me a thumbs-up.
What can I say? I like grebes! And Grebe-Feet are just so cool!
 |
| Grebe Feet! (Photo by David Peterson) |
David Peterson hails from Port Richey, Florida, though he is quick to point out he's originally "from Wisconsin." He sits on the board of the Nature Coast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.
Hello Kirby,
ReplyDeleteI am a publicist at Princeton University Press. I just read your book recommendations for National Parks Traveler and hope I can add you to our database to receive bird book news and review copies. Can you touch base at jessica_pellien@press.princeton.edu?
Thanks,
Jessica