These two juveniles were on the pond before I could get set up (and hidden in waiting) so I had to settle for these long range shots which were taken as I crept up to them from behind. The birds were visually 'stacked' one on top of the other as I made my approach, it was only when I got closer that I could see that both birds were next to each other, from a distance it looked like one long bird!
I saw two birds while walking round yesterday evening but this is the first time I have captured on camera two at the same time on the pond. Both birds are youngsters; apprently the grey rather than orange legs and slightly duller plumage help show their young age.
There are very few sticklebacks in my pond so these youngsters were fishing for diving beetle larvae rather than fish - I hope that they have enough food to sustain them!
Long range shots - sorry no sharp detail!
Perhaps not quite so exotic, but I'm super chuffed to see the morehens finally hatch off four young chicks this year. Due to the lack of vegitation and reed cover in previous years, the nests had been raided and the eggs eaten by badger/fox/crow/magpies etc. Great to see the pond maturing year by year.
Mum is feeding the youngsters water snails - I have no idea how they manage to eat them, shell and all! As the pond and vegitation mature, the pond will hopefully continue to support more wildlife.
