Eared & Western Grebes

Both species were plentiful in SW Manitoba a couple weeks ago, especially the westerns which were quite accommodating, photographically.

Great shots-and a wonderful pose on the Western Grebe.

Very nice.

cavuken wrote in post #18027436
Great shots-and a wonderful pose on the Western Grebe.

Melissa6 wrote in post #18027483
Very nice.

Thank you both very much for commenting; I appreciate your taking the time. I've often wondered and, in fact, have researched to no avail why some diving species like these grebes, as well as loons, have red irises. One thinks it must have something to do with improving sight under water. Anyway, they are quite striking, I think.

Very handsome, great shot!

CDMOOSE wrote in post #18027676
Thank you both very much for commenting; I appreciate your taking the time. I've often wondered and, in fact, have researched to no avail why some diving species like these grebes, as well as loons, have red irises. One thinks it must have something to do with improving sight under water. Anyway, they are quite striking, I think.

Yes, their eyes are very unique and beautiful. Interesting that you didn't find a reason for the red color.

Stunning.

RLJSlick wrote in post #18027696
Very handsome, great shot!

Melissa6 wrote in post #18027806
Yes, their eyes are very unique and beautiful. Interesting that you didn't find a reason for the red color.

fourfa wrote in post #18027945
Stunning.

Thank you all for taking the time to comment; I appreciate it.

The world of birds is endlessly fascinating to me. If red color improves their underwater vision, then how to explain the Cormorant's blue eyes-also a diving bird which makes its living catching fish?More mysteries.

Very nice shots Al

Very nicely done.

cavuken wrote in post #18029457
The world of birds is endlessly fascinating to me. If red color improves their underwater vision, then how to explain the Cormorant's blue eyes-also a diving bird which makes its living catching fish?More mysteries.

More mysteries, indeed. One thing I know is that you'll never get to the end of questions about the life of birds.

Peter2516 wrote in post #18029560
Very nice shots Al

Thanks, Peter.

lonerider519 wrote in post #18029583
Very nicely done.

Thank you for commenting.

Beauties. all!

I'm not buying the diving hypothesis for the red eyes. There are too many other birds that dive deep, like the cormorant that was pointed out, as well as some shearwaters and murres, that don't have red eyes.

I suspect, although I am not a biologist, that loons and grebes are closely related from an evolutionary standpoint and there were other evolutionary pressures that selected for red eyes.

JimLittle wrote in post #18029715
Beauties. all!

Thanks, Jim.