This shot of a Black-necked Grebe was taken from a drift hut in the Camargue in early spring.
The stilted grebe (Himantopus himantopus) is a wading bird with very long legs from the avocet family (Recurvirostridae). The Australian, South American and American stilts are often considered subspecies of this species.
This bird has enormously long, pink legs (almost half its total length), a black and white plumage and a long, straight needle-shaped bill. The mantle and wings are black, while the head and crown are white (often grey in males). Males are more black than females, especially in summer. Females are often brownish in colour. Juvenile resembles adult, but the upper surface is browner and the legs dirty pink or greyish. In flight, the legs extend far beyond the tail and the black underwings contrast sharply with the white body. When not running in the water, it must bend deeply to pick up food.
My name is Patrick Haleyt, a nature and black-and-white street photographer driven by a deep fascination with the raw beauty of the natural world. My work focuses on capturing the quiet intensity of nature and landscapes - moments where light, form and emotion merge into timeless simplicity. My.. Read more…