Pied-Billed Grebe and baby on Nest

[Stephen Stephen]

I created this image yesterday at a local flood control reservoir. Last year I completely missed the nesting of the P-B grebes but I was fortunate enough to find them this spring with the help of fellow photographers.

There are a number of annoying old cattails and reeds which obscure most of the view of the nest, and the birds while they are swimming about.

Canon 40D and Sigma 50-500mm at 500mm on Induro carbonflex tripod. No Flash, 1/125 sec, f/9.0, ISO 500

This image is a big crop to avoid the OOF plants in the frame so unfortunately it's not a sharp as I would like however I was pleased to add the young bird to my collection. As of yesterday there were 2 chicks with another 3 eggs still in the nest.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s219/Squidcan/Birds3/Pied_Billed_Grebe_23.jpg

[John Haig]

Nice work, Stephen...I love the chick peeking out of her plumage. It looks like a tight spot to get any image...that's pretty darned good for what you've got to work around.

[Peter Farrell]

Very nice shot. Both mom and baby look good. The three reeds touching the duck from the top would be my choices to try and remove.
Peter

[Krijn Trimbos]

Nice family shot Stephen. Exp great and love the little one on the back. For me the BG is a bit too cluttered though. Otherwise well done

[Robert O'Toole]

Very well done, doesnt look like an easy shot to make. Good job!

The reeds frame the birds and the BG is the natural habitat so I dont mind at it all. Looks 100% natural.

I would crop from the right a little, run NR (well soften the BG also) on the BG and sharpen the chick a little.

Robert

[Steve Maxson]

A very nice family portrait, Stephen, with two good head angles and I like the soft, even light. I can appreciate trying to get a clear shot through the vegetation. I too am OK with the habitat, as presented, as this is where they choose to nest. Well done.

[Stephen Stephen]

Thank you John, Peter, Krijn, Robert and Steve.

Overall the nest is extremely frustrating because there is no clear view without some stem obstructing some part of it.

[Ofer Levy]

I like this. Good job in getting them both with nice head turn.

[Stephen Stephen]

I like this. Good job in getting them both with nice head turn.

Thank you Ofer. I took a lot of photos and kept trying to get both looking towards the camera. The adult's head could have been turned a bit more but overall I'm happy with this one.