Today’s post features another duck I’ve been seeing quite frequently during my kayak outings. This is the Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) and compared to most other ducks, is a bit smaller. When I see these grebes, they are usually either single or maybe with a partner, but I’ve never seen them in groups. When it swims, it sometimes swims with only it’s head protruding from the water, and at other times swims on top of the water like other ducks. Being a fish-eating duck, it often dives, looking for a quick meal. It has a rather large, thick bill that is used to help catch and hold fish in it’s grasp. In breeding season, this duck’s bill is white with a black ring (“pied”), but in other seasons, the bill is dull and pale.
This little duck is always fun to watch when he is fishing … even more so when he is successful! And the fish he catches always seems to be too big for him to down, but he somehow always manages! Here are a few images from the kayak:
