Painshill Park - The eggs have hatched..

I'm a bit tied up with domestic things at the mo, but I did manage a quick visit to Painshill Park late this morning. My objective - to see whether the Great Crested Grebes were still on their nest.

Well...

they were not on their nest - but, in fact, further up the lake as the proud parents of two young Grebes. Whether the other two eggs were predated or it was the newly hatched young I don't know (there were 4 eggs as far as I know).

Initially on approaching the lake I realised that Mum had at least 1 youngster on her back. I spent nearly 2 hours from different spots watching and photographing them. During that time a second one revealed itself. It seemed smaller and certainly didn't react so quickly when Dad brought the next bit to eat.

As usual, I was thinking: if only the light was better - if only they were nearer!

Well towards the end of my rewarding vigil they did come closer to a bank so I want to meet them there.

(The pictures could be better but it was a privilege to be there and see these beautiful birds)

(The detail is better seen by enlarging the pictures by clicking on them...)

He seemed to have a feather in his beak.. which at one point he offered to one of the chicks.

Dad had been really industriousness fishing for most of the time.