After so much sunshine, showers have arrived, but I decided to head off to the Lagoon anyhow to see if I could see some ducklings. I did wonder where they went when it drizzled.
As I started walking, one of the first birds I saw on the grass was this Australasian coot. Strangely, I am not sure I have ever really noticed its feet before, and they seemed inordinately large.
And I had barely left this coot when I had the first answer to my wonderings about where the ducklings go when it rains: at least some of them huddle under a parent.
Not far past them I saw this group of young looking(?) females huddled together while showers fell. Maalie has since told me these are grey duck: you can check out more about them on this wonderful webpage.
Next, I discovered a coot nesting, on quite a public spot really, not too far from the water's edge.
As far as I could tell, the young didn't seem to have hatched yet.
Finally, after all that excitement, as I followed the path along the water's edge, I discovered that some ducklings stay swimming with their mother when it rains.....
As I made my way back to the car when the rain got heavier, I noticed quite a few more sedentary birds, at least some of whom were hiding their huddled young beneath them on the grass. It was something I had never really noticed before....
Not sure where the ducklings are is the nicest place. I think I'd rather take me chances with the rain. The close up of the coot is great. We have them here too.
ReplyDeleteOur coots really are your coots. They only came over here in the 60s I think, and have since spread...
ReplyDeleteAw, sweet!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures! I think the ducklings are great under their mom, it is a nice place, warm I am sure, smelly maybe but they're mom's smells.
ReplyDeleteMichèle
Love your photos :)
ReplyDeleteCan't say I've ever noticed where duckling go in the rain before, but huddling under mum looks to be good with the safety in numbers thing ;)
well they have larger feet for walking over reeds and around swamps...
ReplyDeleteI guess so simon- but I don't think I had ever seen one on land. They seem so 'slender' when they swim, that for some misguided reason I imagined thin feet on them. Silly really!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures! How your one little questions led to such discovery and beauty! We should ask questions more often.
ReplyDeleteAndie
Hi Andie, glad you enjoyed my pictures. Seeing the birds in the showers of rain was quite special.
ReplyDeleteYou will know that the huddle of ducks are the New Zealand Grey Ducks, whereas the female on the water with the ducklings is a Mallard.
ReplyDeleteNope.... I didn't know that... thought they were all mallards :-)
ReplyDeleteCheck it out here Kiwi.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful website. I have edited my post!
ReplyDelete