Cute Coot Kiddie

Taken this morning at a local lake from a hide with the K20D and Sigma 500mm f4.5

I had to wait a couple of hours for the the adult plus chick composition, shot it, then the rain came down by the bucket load:



http://flickr.com/photos/chirpy_uk/2572058795/

It was quite funny watching the nesting adult (I'm presuming a female) settle down for about 10 minutes having a nap. It then woke up and called to the other adult (male) for more food. He took a couple of minutes to turn up and hand over either weed or some insect larva from the lake, which she then fed to the chick (there only appeared to be one that had hatched so far). He'd then go off and she'd settle down for another 10 minutes and then repeat.

Excellent shot. I admire your patience......very nice one...

Fascinating birds, coots.

If you feed most water-birds with young, the whole lot of them will charge in, and in the general melee the weaker ones will miss out.

Coots are another story. Mother coot will shepherd her young away, then take individual morsels to each chick in turn until all are fed.

I've got some pictures somewhere, if I can find them.

G