Saw about 12 - 15 australian grebes in two groups in Homebush Bay today. Probably not gob smackingly unusual, but was a surprise to me as my typical sightings of grebes are of an occassional solitary individual in a smallish pond. Homebush Bay is quite a large inlet off the Parramatta River. Also first time I have seen one fly, low skimming over the water, wings beating fast and the body inclined at 45 degree angle to the water.
This time of the year their young are all grown up, I have seen larger groups, but not as many as 15. The one in the centre of the photo looks like a Hoary-headed Grebe. I have seen them fly , but not yet walking on the ground
. Again, you inspire me to go down to my lake to have a look and see if I find some. Thanks
M-L
Not in the past but just in recent years have seen Australasian & Hoary-headed ^
Grebes flying all the time, obviously not away from the wetland but a few metres above the water.
Curtis
Thanks Araminta, i did not notice if it was a hoary headed grebe as they were long way off and i only thought of australasian grebes. Might try again tomorrow to see if any are still about to get a closer look.
Thats interesting Cotton. Its probably that I dont see many of them about here in the first place, that i had not seen one airbourne before.
Got some slightly better pictures today of those grebes which i have put in the identification forum. I think they might well be hoary headed grebes as Araminta suggested, which would be a new one for me.
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/Which-Grebe