Clark's and Western grebes on Klamath Lake.

[Howard West]

I'd like like to report a high rate of dancing from these grebes, but, not yet!

After a morning and an evening at Putnam's Point, total time around 3.5 hours I saw only 3 dances, and only 1 in decent conditions.

 I can only wonder why they aren't more active.

During the capture of 1 dance, it appears like the dancing couple is trying to run over another Western grebe.

Most likely these dancing grebes are not fully aware of their surroundings, much like motorists who are texting and driving, but even worse.

The grebe in the wrong place had to take some late "evasive action"!

There are other people who report to this list who are currently spending more time grebe watching than myself. I'm quite sure they will give a "heads up" when these grebes are active enough to warrant visits from distant areas.

Enclosed images taken about 5:45 on the 23rd.

Howard West

Klamath Falls

[Charlie Baughman]

[Steve Park]

Hello Howard,

Thanks for sharing those lovely photos of dancing grebes. 

I used to make 2-3 trips every year to Putnam Point when I was living in Sacramento, CA. But I haven't been there since 2015, a little too far to drive 700 miles from Las Vegas. But I'm planning to stop there on the way to Vancouver sometime this summer. I would like to see some grebe chicks riding their parents' back and photograph them. Those babies riding on their mommy/daddy are so cute, not too many people even know about it.

I understand it'll be next to impossible to predict precise time frame, but please check with your image bank and let me know what you think. I have a few not so great images of grebes riding on their parents' back taken on Jun 06, 2015. But I think it's usually quite later than that. Thanks for your help.

Best regards,

Steve Park

[Charlie Baughman]

I was at Putnam point last weekend.  I saw many chases but only one dance.  I also never saw any fish being caught or eaten.
Maybe the Grebes are not dancing because they are more busy looking for food.

Charlie

On Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 2:05:21 PM UTC-7, Howard West wrote:

[Jack Noller]

Howard,  I think you are probably right about the rushing grebes being oblivious to surroundings.  Here is one of a series of shots with a baby grebe barely getting out of the way in time. This was shot on 07/29/2010.

 

 

 

Klamath Falls.

[Howard West]

The start of nesting season for these birds can vary by easily a full month, or more. They can't start until nest building conditions are right. Looking at past years that had a good nesting season, I would say the average time frame of birds arriving at Putnam Point with babies would be from the 1st week in June through the 1st week of August. There is also maybe up to a full month between the the nesting start for different pairs, in the same season. Keep in mind that it's not unusual to see Rushing, or dancing, long after the first babies arrive.

In 2015 my first photo capture was on June 10, and from June 10 through June 22 I saw everything from small to very large babies. My last photos of babies in 2015 were on Aug 8, and I was still seeing some medium sized babies.

Howard West

Klamath Falls

[Steve Park]

Thanks for posting a reply, Howard.

The photo I posted was taken on June 06, 2015, but it was from Tule Lake NWR, not Putnam Point. With your advice in mind, I'll plan to be there late June. I also need to get away from this hot desert when it's the hottest, LOL.

[Howard West]

Grebes today at Putnams Point.

Grebes can be very unpredictable, and have long stretches of time with no dancing, and also times when almost all the pairs want to dance.

I was there early this morning, just above the bridge on the East side. In 2 1/2 hours I saw only 1 dance.

Just as I was ready to quit, all the grebes acted spooky, and with heads held high they started upstream.

Almost instantly a River Otter surfaced within 20 yards of me, with a fish. When the fish was devoured, I looked around and

saw 2 more Otters, a family of 3. No grebes were in sight, they had all moved up into the lake.

On June 29, 2015 I photographed a Otter eating a large grebe, at the little island. For weeks very few grebes wanted to go into the river.

I went back to Putnams Point around 4:15 this afternoon. Not many grebes were in the river above the bridge, and in 1 1/2 hours there were no dances.

I was watching the river, and not the lake. They may have been dancing in the lake both morning and afternoon!

I don't have great pictures of either grebes or otters, but will attach 1 of each.

Howard West

Klamath Falls

On Mon, May 14, 2018 at 3:48 PM, Nabha riseup <riseu...@gmail.com> wrote:

The clarks are dancing in droves now at Putnams point

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[Nabha riseup]

Thanks for sharing the photos. We were at putnams point from about 330-430 and saw at least 10 dances in that short time. Maybe beginners luck? It was my first trip to the point. We also saw lots of other mating behaviors like an eel was carried proudly around for a long while until stolen and lake muck in the beak was shown off as well. This was on the lake just past the marina.

[Howard West]

Grebes at Putnams Point.

Glad to see the late night post from Nabha. Yesterday around noon I received an email from a Bend photographer who said he and a friend from Reno planned to come to day for grebes.

I tried to persuade them to delay, mostly due to worsening weather reports. The morning sky looks great, and they will work the lake side if that's where the most action is, as they have lenses long enough they don't need to work the river.

I doubt there is any difference between Clark's and Western grebes as to dancing frequency. Nabha, glad your bucket was filled.

Howard West

Klamath Falls

On Mon, May 14, 2018 at 11:57 PM, Nabha riseup <riseu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for sharing the photos. We were at putnams point from about 330-430 and saw at least 10 dances in that short time. Maybe beginners luck? It was my first trip to the point. We also saw lots of other mating behaviors like an eel was carried proudly around for a long while until stolen and lake muck in the beak was shown off as well. This was on the lake just past the marina.