The Least Grebe is either very cute or very evil depending on your point of view…your mood…or maybe your disposition. These shots are at Sabal Palm Sanctuary near Brownsville Texas, and are typical of the Least Grebe look. I think, for me, the yellow eye with the dark overhanging brow and that dagger beak always over-ride the fluffy behind parts to tip the scale to the evil side. Besides I have seen a Least Grebe come its body length up out of the water to take a dragonfly out of the air. It had the killer instinct! Once you have seen that you can never look at a Least Grebe quite the same again.

Canon SX40HS at 1680mm equivalent (840mm optical zoom plus 2x digital converter). f5.8 @ 1/200th @ ISO 200. Program with iContrast and -1/3rd EV exposure compensation.

Processed in Lightroom for Intensity and Sharpness.