Who’s there ?

On regular trips past a small dam on our property we have been noticing concentric ripples and a fast-disappearing animal, usually near a plastic container serving as a trough intake float. Among possible candidates that came to mind were an Eastern Snake-necked Turtle and a Rakali (Water-rat), both of which have previously been seen at the dam. But our best bet was an Australasian Grebe, a common bird on farm dams, which is in fact what it turned out to be when we waited one day until it popped out from behind the float.

This grebe is already developing its breeding plumage which includes a yellow bare patch on the face, a black head and chestnut stripes on its neck and flank.

Click on any of the photos to enlarge, and click HERE to see previous posts on the Australasian Grebe.