Horned Grebes

This was taken at the pond of my nearby Hillside Park in Lamont. Not much lives on this pond. It is basically a collection site for drainage from many parts of the town. There is a bit of a fountain near the center of the pond to keep it aerated, and the water does look quite clear, but I can not see much livning in it. Ducks will do a survey of the area in the Spring, quickly moving on.

 

I noticed a single Horned Grebe earlier in the year. Could never get a close shot of it as it hung out in the center of the pond. I always felt sad for it being all alone. I see now that it has a single chick that must keep up with her. I have never seen another parent or chick, so I believe it is just the two. I really wish I would have spotted the pair sooner when the wee one would have been hitching a ride. I have no idea where the nest would be, but it is not the typical floating nest, so it must be hidden along shore withing the reeds and grasses.

 

Although they must be getting enough food to survive, which is surprising to me, I am concerned at the small size of the younger one. Soon it will be time to head south for them. Still not capable of flight, it has much growing to do, along with a building of muscle to get it to its destination. Hard to imagine it will make it, but I am no expert in these things. Nature does hold many surprises and miracles.

 

This is as close as the two would get to me, so it is a heavy crop to the actual pixels without any reduction in size for posting. I did get a couple of closer shots of just the chick, but wanted to show them together. It certainly isn't the sharpest shot, but I am still happy to have it as a snapshot of Wildlife on the pond.

 

 

Done