Commemorative Air Force
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Pied-billed grebes are often seen floating or diving on Florida’s lakes and ponds. This small pigeon-sized grebe has a short, blunt bill, which is encircled by a black band. These grebes are rarely seen flying, they usually dive and swim underwater when threatened. They feed on small fish, crustaceans and aquatic insects.
Some pied-billed grebes are year-round residents in Florida, and have an extended breeding season. Others migrate to northern states to breed and return to Florida for the winter.
Pied-billed Grebes have several folk names, including "water witch" and "hell-diver."
Found this one along Peavine Road, Osceola County, Florida.
"...it seems to vanish mysteriously, skulking in some sheltered nook, with only its bill above water, well deserving its common name of "water witch.""
Birds by Bent
This grebe was watching me from underwater. What a weirdo. I snapped a photo just as he surfaced. The birdnote.org folks asked if they could use my photo. Follow this link. Kinda kool.
Update: my photo is no longer featured...
The Commemorative Air Force's Curtiss SB2C Helldiver; currently the world's only flying example; with a classic Chevrolet Corvette in the background. _DSC3280
Awaiting the day's history flights, the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force's Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, the only flying example in existence, stands at rest. _DSC3403_HDR
Weather breaks over the Commemorative Air Force's Curtis SB2C Helldiver, the only flying Helldiver in existence, _DSC2647_HDR_1
Minnesota's first real spring day of 2018. Everyone was outside and admiring the abundance of beautiful wildlife. The common loon can be a thrill no matter how often you see one.
Photographed 21 June 2025, Tambon Chum Chang - Wetland, Phon Phisai, Nong Khai Province, Thailand
Body: Sony A7 III
Lens: Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Thanks in advance for your views, favorites, and supportive comments.
As one of only two Curtiss Helldivers flying, I was intrigued watching the wings unfold as this one taxied to the active runway. Not something you see everyday! _DSC3620
Photographed 19 July 2025, Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, Walden, North Park, Jackson County, Colorado
Body: Sony A7-iii (ILCE-7M3)
Lens: Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Thanks in advance for your views, favorites, and supportive comments.
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a U.S. Navy carrier-based dive bomber introduced during World War II. Powered by a Wright R-2600 engine, it carried bombs and depth charges for anti-ship missions. Though initially plagued by handling issues, it replaced the SBD Dauntless and served effectively in the Pacific Theater. Over 7,000 were produced before retirement in the late 1940s.The Helldiver had a poor reputation early on due to handling issues but improved over time and proved effective in combat.As of 2025, only one Curtiss SB2C Helldiver remains airworthy in the world. It is operated by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) in Texas, USA. This aircraft is a rare survivor of over 7,000 built and is regularly flown at airshows, preserving the legacy of this important World War II dive bomber.
The CAF Gulf Coast Wing's Curtiss SB2C Helldiver sits on the ramp, wings folded and braced, awaiting the oncoming storm. _DSC2661
A rare flying example of a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver operated by the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force fires up it's massive 1,900 HP R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone engine. _DSC3709 1
The Commemorative Air Force's Curtiss SB2C Helldiver shuts down it's engine after a busy morning of historical flight experiences. _DSC3676 1
Some Naval Aviators I know refer to their F/A-18 Superhornets as "Bomb Trucks". Well, here's the 1940's version of a "Bomb Truck", the Curtiss-Wright SB2C Helldiver, operated by the West Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. Much maligned in it's day, this aircraft was the U.S. Navy's last true dive-bomber. This specific aircraft is the last flying example. _DSC3743BW
The pied-billed grebe builds nests that are little platforms of plant material that floats on water, hidden behind vegetation.
Photographed 02 June 2025, Tambon Chum Chang - Wetland, Phon Phisai, Nong Khai Province, Thailand
Body: Sony A7 III
Lens: Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS
Thanks in advance for your views, favorites, and supportive comments.
Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
The great crested grebe is a delightfully elegant waterbird with ornate head plumes which led to its being hunted for its feathers, almost leading to its extermination from the UK. They dive to feed and also to escape, preferring this to flying. On land they are clumsy because their feet are placed so far back on their bodies. They have an elaborate courtship display in which they rise out of the water and shake their heads. Very young grebes often ride on their parents' backs. RSPB - www.rspb.org.uk/
Please do not use my images without asking me. My email address is picsfolio@yahoo.co.uk. All my images are copyright protected and it is illegal to use any of my flickr postings without my express permission.
A detail shot of the .30 caliber machine guns used for rearward protection in the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver operated by the Commemorative Air Force. _DSC2682_HDR
The pied-billed grebe is a species of the grebe family of water birds. Since the Atitlán grebe has become extinct, it is the sole extant member of the genus Podilymbus. The pied-billed grebe is primarily found in ponds throughout the Americas.
This SBD-4 Dauntless, BuNo. 10575 is on display at Chicago's Midway Airport, which is named after the World War II Battle of Midway.
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a naval dive bomber made by Douglas during World War II. The SBD was the United States Navy's main dive bomber from mid-1940 until late 1943, when it was largely replaced by the SB2C Helldiver. The aircraft was also operated by the United States Army as the A-24 Banshee.
Although relatively slow and outmoded when it began its combat career, it was rugged and dependable and sank more Japanese shipping than any other aircraft during World War II.
The SBD's most important contribution to the American war effort probably came during the Battle of Midway in early June 1942, when SBD dive bomber attacks sank or fatally damaged all four of the Japanese aircraft carriers, three of them in the space of just six minutes (Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, and later in the day Hiryū) as well as heavily damaging two Japanese cruisers (including Mikuma).
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Civil Registration N92879 BuNo 83589 USN USS Franklin
Carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service.
Photo taken at Mid Atlantic Air Museum WWII Weekend Spaatz Field Reading Regional Airport June 2018
ABD_0419
Manufacturer: Curtiss
Operator: Commemorative Air Force-Cactus Squadron/West Texas Wing, Graham Graham Municipal Airport, Graham, TX.
Type/ Markings: Curtiss SB2C/SBW Helldiver 32 (N92879)
Event / Location: 2011 New Orleans Air Show/ NAS Belle Chase, New Orleans, Louisiana
Comments: The markings represent a Helldiver operating with CV-13 on the U.S.S. Franklin
Photo by my son William John Jardim
Wikipedia: The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. As a carrier-based bomber with the United States Navy (USN), in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A few survivors are extant.
Manufacturer: Curtiss
Operator: Commemorative Air Force-Cactus Squadron/West Texas Wing, Graham Graham Municipal Airport, Graham, TX.
Type/ Markings: Curtiss SB2C/SBW Helldiver 32 (N92879)
Event / Location: 2011 New Orleans Air Show/ NAS Belle Chase, New Orleans, Louisiana
Comments: The markings represent a Helldiver operating with CV-13 on the U.S.S. Franklin
Photo by my son William John Jardim