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!

36 comments:

  1. Cracking shots, Stewart! Beautiful grebes!

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  2. 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.

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  3. They are really gorgeous birds!

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  4. 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!

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

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  6. 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.

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  7. They are so beautiful birds !!
    Great shots !!

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

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

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

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

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

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  13. 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.

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

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  15. 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.

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  16. 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!

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

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  18. What an exciting capture of the soft side of nature.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  25. 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

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  26. 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.

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  27. They are beautiful birds. Love seeing the chicks too.

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  28. 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 :-)

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

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  30. 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!

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

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

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  33. 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 :)

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