It is 12 days since I visited the local Lake and took some photos of the Australian Coot family and other water fowl.
Today near the edge of the lake was a parent and one chick.
Look at the size of those big paddling feet. It is no wonder that the Coot chicks can scoot along like little speed boats at times.
There was no sign of the other parent or the second chick so I decided to walk around the path further in the hope that I would find them on the more sheltered side of the rushes.
No luck there but I could see the Pukeko family together in bulrushes much closer to the path. I set off in that direction but rounded a corner to see this family heading my way.
Caution was the option I took and after taking two photos of the high-stepping proud parents and their fluffy cygnets I retraced my footsteps and left the swans to their outing.
As I neared the path back to the shopping centre I spotted the two Australian Coot parents and both chicks.
Feeding the young ones was very much the business of the day. The parents repeatedly dived to pluck weed or vegetation to offer to the peeping chicks.
Then one of the chicks swam off in a very independent manner to balance on a bulrush and peck at the foliage or perhaps to rest up with a full belly.
ordinarygoodness 
great to see the chicks are ok, and swans are great parents – unlike ducks…
It was good to see the Coots doing so well. I wasn’t prepared to risk getting too much closer to the swans. As you say they are excellent parents.
I was sad to hear the plaintive calls from the pair of Paradise Ducks near the lake. No sign of babies for them and I wondered if something had gone awry….they are generally excellent parents too.
Every spring I used to get so upset when we were up at Coopers Beach. The ducks there always seemed to lose their ducklings, despite our attempts to protect them. Once a shag took all the ducklings before Rod could get down the hill to do anything… Sometimes I wonder how there are so many ducks still around.
Ducklings do seem to get preyed upon heavily. Seagulls like to prey on them too I have been told.
I have witnessed plenty of “duck love” happening around me as I have been visiting the lake!
Oh I hope they haven’t lost their babies. 😦
I did have to wonder about why they were calling so much. Here is a more uplifting Paradise Duck story:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/oddstuff/10670986/No-ducking-when-duty-calls.
How cute! It is amazing how they do know exactly where they want to go. The same applies to ordinary ducks. Once a year about this time (spring) we always have duck visitors. They appear to be searching for something but after a quick inspection they toddle off to wherever they are going. Here was one of our duck visitors last year https://silkannthreades.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/spring-things/
I remember your visiting ducks amidst your gorgeous blossom. Perhaps they were on a “garden tour”.
Who knows! Ducks have their own little ways. 😀
They do seem to have their own little ways!
Your patience was rewarded Lynley. The chicks are doing well, and it’s good to see.
Thanks Juliet. I am very interested in watching their unique beak and white marking develop.
Pingback: More on the Australian Coot chicks | ordinarygoodness