• ABOUT
  • BIRDING 2018
  • Birding 2019
  • BLOG POSTS
  • Butterflies 2018
  • Resources

earthstar

~ a celebration of nature

earthstar

Tag Archives: juvenile Great crested grebe

Humbug

05 Tuesday Oct 2021

Posted by sconzani in birds

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

birding, birdwatching, British birds, Cardiff Bay birding, Great Crested Grebe, Humbug, juvenile Great crested grebe

It seems late in the season to be seeing a juvenile Great crested grebe that’s still constantly nagging its parent for food and still sporting the head stripes that have earned these birds the nickname ‘Humbug’ (for those unfamiliar with the word, it’s a black-and-white-striped boiled sweet) but there are still a couple in my area.

211005 great crested grebe (1)

I presume these juveniles are the result of second breeding attempts by the adult birds after their first attempts have failed. Their parents may not agree but I think they’re incredibly cute!

211005 great crested grebe (2)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Lunch … mmmmmm!

18 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

bird with fish, birding, birdwatching, Black-headed gull, British birds, Great Crested Grebe, grebe with fish, juvenile Great crested grebe

Raw fish might not be everyone’s idea of a tasty lunch but it’s the staple diet for this juvenile Great crested grebe.

180818 great crested grebe (1)

And here it comes now …

180818 great crested grebe (2)

‘Thanks, Mum.’

180818 great crested grebe (3)

‘It’s a slippery sucker.’

180818 great crested grebe (4)

‘It’s a bit big, Mum. I’m not sure how to eat this thing.’

180818 great crested grebe (5)

‘Ooops, almost dropped it.’

180818 great crested grebe (6)

Seeing the young one struggling to down its lunch, a Black-headed gull swoops in to try to steal the fish. Both grebes dive immediately.

180818 great crested grebe (7)

‘Where’d they go?’

180818 great crested grebe (8)

Seconds later, the gull flies off, Mum and junior both surface, and Mum’s come up with the second course.

180818 great crested grebe (9)
180818 great crested grebe (10)

This is one contented-looking Great crested grebe!

180818 great crested grebe (11)

Like this:

Like Loading...

About me

sconzani

sconzani

I'm a writer and photographer; researcher and blogger; birder and nature lover; countryside rambler and city strider; volunteer and biodiversity recorder.

View Full Profile →

Follow earthstar on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent blog posts

  • Interesting snippets about Swallows May 27, 2023
  • Dryad’s saddles May 26, 2023
  • You know it’s almost summer when … May 25, 2023
  • Wild word: antenna May 24, 2023
  • Mr and Ms Orange-tip May 23, 2023

From the archives

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

COPYRIGHT

Unless otherwise acknowledged, the text and photographs on this blog are my own and are subject to international copyright. Nothing may be downloaded or copied without my permission.

Fellow Earth Stars!

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • earthstar
    • Join 588 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • earthstar
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.

    %d bloggers like this: