Grebes rushing
Aechmophorus sp.
Western or Clark's Grebe · San Diego · 6 March 2026
Two grebes mid-"rushing" on a San Diego lake, the courtship sprint where a pair rears up and runs across the surface side by side, feet slapping the water fast enough to stay upright rather than sink. Western and Clark's Grebes both do it, on the big lakes of the West where they breed, and this pair kept it going for several seconds before dropping back to float.
They were too far off and moving too fast for the frame to settle which of the two species is running it. It is one of the few birds that can genuinely walk on water, and the only reason it works is speed: about twenty steps a second.
Birds, insects, plants and other wildlife, mostly from Brooklyn, with some from further afield.
Every photograph comes with notes on what it is.
Selected
Favourite shots. Filter by subject, or .
Places
Everything, by where it was taken.
Species
Larger catalogue of photos organized by species of animal or plant.
Catalogue
Every photograph, newest first. Narrow it by period, place or species; the three work together.
Updates
Coming soon. Sign up at the bottom of the page for updates.