There were Horned Grebes and other waterfowl swimming this afternoon where I normally walk along the rivers edge. The water has to be a good 5 to 6 feet higher than it normally is and I'm assuming it is all coming from further north where the snow pack this year was extraordinarily deep. Until 5 days ago I hadn't ever seen a Horned Grebe at this particular park, and now this makes two. Hennepin County, MN 04/17/23

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I haven't gotten this close to a Horned Grebe since 2018. Unfortunately it wasn't the best looking one, nor was it in a particularly nice setting. I found this bird in a runoff reservoir on the edge of the Mississippi River. It was such an odd spot, my first thought was that the bird was injured or something, but the longer I watched it, the more I was convinced it was simply staying out of the strong current to preen its feathers. This bird literally had its own little pool –which is why the water is completely still in this photo. The water looks brown because it is reflecting the rusty metal reservoir, and you can see the back wall of that behind the bird here. I forgot how cool looking these birds are and it made me think of another time when I was very close to one. Hennepin County, MN 04/12/23

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This Pied-billed Grebe unexpectedly surfaced from the pond within about 12 feet of me this evening. Hennepin County, MN 04/11/23

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A very short walk late this evening around the retention ponds near home got me a few keepable photos of Pied-billed Grebes. Hennepin County, MN 04/11/23

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Another pic of the Pied-billed Grebe from earlier this week. I've seen SO MANY of them this spring! Hennepin County, MN 04/11/23

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