Wednesday, 22 July 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday 156 - Great Crested Grebe

While I was out and about around some lakes near Swanton Morley I was able to watch a pair of Great Crested Grebes feeding and carrying their young.  They remained a little too distant and mobile for the best of shots, but these images show the young riding on the back of an adult and also a food pass.  I have never got any shots of any quality of either of these behaviours before.

I really like these birds for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, the decline of the Great Crested Grebe was one of the prime reasons why the RSPB was formed, and I have had so many good days out on RSPB reserves it's good to remember how it all started, and today it is one of the largest conservation organisation in the world (if not the largest).

Secondly I can see these birds in Australia as well as back in the UK so they are like a reminder on the past and an opportunity for the present.












So, now it's over to you - click the blue button and join in.  And with luck I will be able to visit your blogs much more rapidly that I have been able to manage in the last few WBWs!

Posted by at

36 comments:

  1. Brian King22 July 2015 at 03:03

    Cracking shots, Stewart! Beautiful grebes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Margaret Birding For Pleasure22 July 2015 at 03:10

    Fantastic series of images. I have never seen the young onthe parnets back but I hope tosomeday. Thanks for hosting and I hope you have a great week.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maude Lynn22 July 2015 at 03:12

    They are really gorgeous birds!

    ReplyDelete
  4. eileeninmd22 July 2015 at 03:14

    Hello Stewart, these Grebes are my favorite Grebes. I wish they were seen in the USA. Cute shots of the little ones riding on the adults back. Thank you for hosting, have a happy week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sharon Wagner22 July 2015 at 03:15

    They are very striking. Another new bird I've never seen.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Kenneth Cole Schneider22 July 2015 at 03:16

    Wonderful bird, and it had such a key place in the history of protection of birds, just as did our plume-bearing herons and egrets. The RSPB inspired some of the US states to form the associations that led to the birth of the National Audubon Society some 20 years later.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ela22 July 2015 at 03:20

    They are so beautiful birds !!
    Great shots !!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sylvia K22 July 2015 at 03:43

    Oh, yes, Stewart, these are great shots indeed and such a beautiful bird!! Hope your week is going well!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. EG CameraGirl22 July 2015 at 04:00

    Wonderful shots of the grebes! I love the way the young take a ride on the parent's back!

    ReplyDelete
  10. mick22 July 2015 at 05:11

    Beautiful birds and it is so cute to see the babies carried on their backs. Great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Linda W.22 July 2015 at 05:12

    Great captures! I enjoyed the shot of the one catching a fish, and the baby riding on it's mother's back.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Findlay Wilde22 July 2015 at 05:39

    They are great pictures, I've not seen any young this year.

    ReplyDelete
  13. NatureFootstep22 July 2015 at 07:00

    Great images of the grebe family. I have only see two this summer and they got 1 chick. But they like to be on the wrong side of reed so it is quite impossible to get a good view. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Adam Jones22 July 2015 at 07:17

    I do enjoy seeing the young Grebes and their stripy heads. Great pictures Stewart.

    ReplyDelete
  15. TexWisGirl22 July 2015 at 10:53

    very cute!

    ReplyDelete
  16. DeniseinVA22 July 2015 at 11:58

    Outstanding Stewart!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sallie (FullTime-Life)22 July 2015 at 12:32

    babies on their back! Makes me irrationally happy to see that! I love grebes though I've never seen this kind, of course. But that wonderful piggy back is the same with both of "ours". I love this series.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous22 July 2015 at 13:58

    Wonderful shots of the Great Crested Grebe. I especially like the little ones hitching a ride! I had trouble getting my image to post, and when it grabbed it, it didn't take my shortened title, so I hope the longer title that showed up doesn't mess up your post format. Thanks for hosting!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jo22 July 2015 at 16:28

    Great photos as usual, Stewart! I love the stripy babies on the parent's back.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gayle22 July 2015 at 20:18

    What an exciting capture of the soft side of nature.

    ReplyDelete
  21. betty-NZ22 July 2015 at 21:48

    These are wonderfully colorful birds. I really like the shots of sharing the fish.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Author R. Mac Wheeler22 July 2015 at 23:37

    Really cool birds. Beautiful...and so doting on the little ones.

    ReplyDelete
  23. photodoug23 July 2015 at 00:28

    Stewart, excellent captures of the Great Crested Grebe. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. This N That23 July 2015 at 00:36

    What wonderful shots of this beautiful little family..Love their colors..Nice series..

    ReplyDelete
  25. Small City Scenes23 July 2015 at 01:20

    Love seeing the young riding on the back and of lunch time. Great shots even at a distance.
    MB

    ReplyDelete
  26. Bethany Carson23 July 2015 at 01:37

    So neat to see the little ones getting a piggy-back ride! Very nice captures!

    ReplyDelete
  27. A Colorful World23 July 2015 at 04:12

    Beautiful shots! So wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wally Jones23 July 2015 at 06:10

    You made the most of a terrific opportunity, Stewart! Outstanding images of the grebes! And to capture the feeding and piggy-back behavior - really special!

    (Sorry to have been absent of late. Life stuff.)

    All the best -- Wally

    ReplyDelete
  29. CountryMouse23 July 2015 at 11:15

    Great collection of captures. You might think they aren't the best but I think they are awesome especially because they capture part of the story of these birds. Love the piggy back style, not something I've seen before. Isn't it great when something in a new place reminds you of another place.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous24 July 2015 at 08:36

    They are beautiful birds. Love seeing the chicks too.

    ReplyDelete
  31. HELENE24 July 2015 at 11:17

    Hello Stewart, great photos you are presenting and thanks for hosting the meme. Thanks for your comment on my blog, as you suggested I have posted a link here to my post from last week – the robin is still busying around whenever I work in the garden :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. diane b24 July 2015 at 16:09

    They look intelligent birds because they look like they are wearing a mortar board??

    ReplyDelete
  33. Rohrerbot25 July 2015 at 03:47

    Sorry I haven't been around to comment! I have been on a long journey and must came back. I love how the little ones jump up on their parent's back for a lift. Adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Kenneth Cole Schneider25 July 2015 at 23:41

    Dropping by again just to thank you for your kind and encouraging comments to my granddaughter on her guest blog post!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anne (cornucopia)26 July 2015 at 08:11

    Great series of photos of a fantastic looking bird! And I didn't realize they carried their young on their back. Fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  36. GreenComotion27 July 2015 at 10:47

    Hi Stewart,
    This is a beautiful set of photos. I have never seen a bird carry its babies on its back!
    So, thank you for this tidbit and hosting WBW!
    Have a Great Week!
    Peace :)

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)