Benny Scerri, known for his stunning wildlife photography, has captured some endearing images of a Black-necked Grebe bathing peacefully in the Maltese countryside. Known for being a freshwater bird and an exceptional swimmer, this grebe appears to have discovered one of the island's rare inland freshwater sources, taking a much-needed break from the unseasonal heat of the past few weeks.

In fact, these birds are most commonly spotted at the Ghadira and Simar Nature Reserves, where it pursues its prey underwater, eating mostly fish as well as small crustaceans, aquatic insects and larvae. It prefers to escape danger by diving rather than flying, although it can easily rise from the water.

A migratory species, the Black-necked Grebe arrives in Malta between late October and early November, staying until March, with some individuals lingering until April or May. Interestingly, these grebes are essentially flightless for most of the year (9 to 10 months) but embark on long migrations, traveling up to 6,000 km to find ideal breeding grounds.

One of Benny's standout photos captures the bird mid-shake after its bath, its feathers dramatically fanned out—almost resembling a penguin. In fact, it's probably the closest thing to a penguin Malta will ever see!

Have you ever seen a Black-necked Grebe?