02 Saturday Sep 2023
Posted in birds
Tags
birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay birding, Great Crested Grebe, Great crested grebe chicks, Humbugs
These two Great crested grebe humbugs (chicks – the humbug name comes from their markings resembling a popular boiled sweet) looked too big still to be hitching a ride on their parent’s back and I think the parent thought so too, unceremoniously dumping them in the water to scratch an itch. But they soon climbed back on again. Great crested grebe parents are very tolerant!
24 Wednesday Jun 2020
Tags
birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff Bay wetlands, Great Crested Grebe, Great crested grebe chicks, Humbugs
Monday’s walk was a delight, my first of the new-fangled socially distanced walks with a friend. As well as each other’s good company, we enjoyed a lovely wander around part of Cardiff Bay, including the wetlands reserve. There is always an abundance of Great crested grebes in the waters around the reserve and this day we also spotted two pairs breeding.
One pair was perhaps making a second attempt, as this is late in the season to begin their breeding cycle. While one bird brooded their single (so far) egg, the other was keeping itself busy gathering extra materials to add to the nest.
We then noticed another pair of grebes that already had two chicks (birders commonly call them ‘humbugs’ because of their striped colouring) and, while the two little ones sheltered on one adult’s back, the other went fishing for sprats for its offspring. It was wonderful to watch them.
24 Friday May 2019
Posted in 365DaysWildin2019, birds, nature
Tags
#365DaysWild, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Great Crested Grebe, Great crested grebe chicks, Humbugs
Some days it’s only Nature that keeps me sane – today was one of those days and these gorgeous creatures played a big part in restoring my sanity and making me grin from ear to ear. In case you don’t know, this is a Great crested grebe and its two chicks, which are often referred to as Humbugs because of their resemblance to the black-and-white-striped sweet of that name.
I think this is their Dad who’s carrying them – Mum, a smaller version of Dad, was nearby. The parents take turns protecting their chicks by carrying them on their backs. I’m not sure if that gaping beak is a yawn or a wish to be fed – I suspect the former.
Dad was getting quite upset at this point because a fight between a Coot and a Mallard was coming a little too close for comfort.
Calm restored. Snoozing bookends!
Curiosity! Soon after this, the closest chick ventured out on to the water for a very brief moment before deciding it was much safer and more comfortable on Dad’s back.
earthstar 
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