Great Crested Grebe with Chick

I have been following this family for a couple of weeks now and they are growing fast. Just 7 days ago, all four chicks could fit on one parents back, now she struggles with two.

While I am shooting, one of the little ones is always picking it's bum.

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Lovely shot Wayne.

What a BEAUTIFUL family photo of a gorgeous Grebe! Nice work Wayne!

Excellent work!! Love these birds

Beautiful family portrait - nice work

I was gonna say 'already'? but then realized your in Australia... Terrific isn't it, following a family like this? I did the same with a Great Crested Grebe family last year. The couple started with 3 chicks. Then there were 2, then there was 1. But the one did grow into a healthy adult.

This is a great shot, Wayne. So lovely with the chicks under the parent's wing!
Was the other parent not around? Usually after some time the parents divide the chicks between them and from then on each parent takes care of only that chick/those chicks. Just wondering if the parents had picked their favourites already.

Thanks all,

These Grebes both take care of the chicks and one of the two seems to often move away for a 20min break now and then. The chicks will ride on either parents back with one parent appearing to do more feeding than the other.

I have no way of telling the sexes apart.

Levina de Ruijter wrote in post #13594455
I was gonna say 'already'? but then realized your in Australia... Terrific isn't it, following a family like this? I did the same with a Great Crested Grebe family last year. The couple started with 3 chicks. Then there were 2, then there was 1. But the one did grow into a healthy adult.

This is a great shot, Wayne. So lovely with the chicks under the parent's wing!
Was the other parent not around? Usually after some time the parents divide the chicks between them and from then on each parent takes care of only that chick/those chicks. Just wondering if the parents had picked their favourites already.

excellent family picture

great low angle on an excellent shot.

Yupp, I like these too! Quite the contrast between how they look from young too Adult.

Thats just beautiful Wayne, Momma sure is pretty. Well done!