Podiceps cristatus australis

Really very tempted to blip this shot of the Black Stilt, one I like more than yesterday's because you can actually see its amazing red eye. And then there's this one of a White-Faced Heron in the trees, doing a mighty fine job of blending in with the scenery. However, I haven't blipped this species before, and it's too likely I won't come across it again, so here it is: the Australasian Crested Grebe.

The Great Crested Grebe is a widespread species, absent only from the Americas. It's divided into three separate subspecies--one of Europe and Asia, one of Africa, and this one of Australia and New Zealand. Though many of this species migrate seasonally, the New Zealand population is for the most part sedentary, inhabiting only the interior lakes the South Island. It's a fragile population, with limited habitat and declining numbers.

I came across this adult and fledgling around sunset on Lake McGregor. It was actually a family of four, with two parents and two chicks. Lake McGregor is teeming with grebe families right now, and each group seems to have chicks at different stages of development. Some are small and fluffy, some are like this one above, larger but still with stripes, and some are starting to resemble their parents, with pale solid coloring and just the first suggestion of that striking crest.

Earlier in the day I visited Lake Alexandrina and took a few photos of a grebe pair that were horribly backlit by the sun. When I got back to town and uploaded the photos, I realized that one of the adults had two tiny chicks poking out of her back! This is how newly hatched grebe chicks ride--nestled into the back of their mother--until they can swim full time on their own. I couldn't believe it. I had seen something I've always wanted to see, photographed it even, and not even known it.

Next up it's back to Mt. Cook, where hopefully this time the weather will be slightly less apocalyptic.