Okay, so there are these duck-type birds called grebes. And when they are courting, they turn to each other and pop up and run across the top of the water! I've seen it in videos an dit looks totally fake, like a cartoon. But I noticed that there is a lake near-ish San Diego where I might be able to see it! I found a guide, borrowed my sister's car, and gave it a go.
The lake is mostly for fishing, there were no other birders there. But there were plenty of ducks and other water birds!
My first eared grebe, very cool. A pair of cinnamon teals hanging out, very cool. A bunch of buffleheads, a couple of ruddy ducks, a good amount of while pelicans. All very cool! A visit by 2 juvie bald eagles, a visit by a red-tailed hawk, a flyover blue heron. A coot that was very curious about the boat and came right over. A few ruddy ducks!
All of this was wonderful. But the main stars were the western and Clark's grebes, and their crazy rushing, which is what they call it when they run on top of the water. Awesome! Hilarious! Did not disappoint!
Get ready:
There they go!!!!!!!
Sometimes it's not a pair courting, sometime's it a competitive thing. So sometimes there are 3 or 4 or even more going at once!
It was a wonderful amazing day and a pure joy to see this in action.
Oh, and finally had a good look at a cormorant in breeding plumage. This is why they are called a double crested cormorant!
