I didn’t immediately notice the tiny Brolga chick that was hidden in the long grass as it scurried along to keep up with its parents.
It was an overcast day and the Brolga were so far away that I’m half surprised I bothered aiming the camera at them. As they got closer to the water the grass became shorter and the fluffy little head that had been hiding among the grasses revealed itself more fully – and what a beautiful sight it was! I love the family feel of this photograph with one adult watchful as the other forages, something they took turns to do. And I like the way the chick is framed beneath the foraging adult.
Lirralirra typically gets a couple of thousand visitors a week but it’s much quieter over Christmas as people are desperately rushing around trying to get everything organised. And there are others who don’t celebrate Christmas, for many different reasons. Whatever category you are in I saved this beautiful sight for you and I sincerely hope you like the sweet scene.
Happy birding, Kim
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Gosh this is so cute!
I’d taken quite a few photographs before I even saw the chick as it was completely hidden in the grass. I probably mentioned that it the post! Super cute, I agree
Thank you Kim for another year of magic and what a wonderful way to end the year with Mum, Dad and bubs enjoying special time together.
Hope you find something special under the Christmas tree.
I hope among the Nintendos and Lego lots of children will get a camera, binoculars or telescope and an invitation to join lirralirra – a gift which will keep on giving and introduce children into a world of real magic, beauty and wonder.
Looks like temperatures are going to soar so please make sure there are lots of bowls of water and bird baths for our very precious feathered friends.
May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter!
What lovely ideas for Christmas gifts for children. Wouldn’t it be great if they were top of the list! Wishing you all the very best Barbara
Very cute! Thanks for the lovely photos this year and wishing you and yours a happy Christmas and safe, healthy 2025!
Thanks so much Donna, wishing you a wonderful Christmas and New Year too
So beautiful – thanks Kim
It was such a beaut surprise Fiona, especially as I’d been photographing the adults for quite a while before spotting it
That is a lovely photo, Kim. I had no idea that the parents take it in turns to forage, while the other one keeps watch. It must be so exhausting for birds, to constantly be on the lookout for predators. That has always been the nature of the food web, I suppose – but it still makes it a hard world for all those animals preyed upon by others – humans being the top of the food chain, and therefore the most dangerous to those they consider beneath them. Thank you so much for all your knowledge about our beautiful birds, and the joy that your delightful photos give us every week.
I prefer to call Xmas, Yule -as the Vikings called it. (that’s my Norwegian ancestry showing itself!)The end of year winter solstice celebration, which we now call Yuletide. They always hung a wreath of pine branches on their doors, to show that the year has come full circle. I do that, too – gazing at my handmade wreath reminds me just how quickly the year flies by, and that the seasons are circular. I hope you have a blissful Yuletide with your family. I also hope that your local magpies carol gloriously at you from the tree tops on the 25th!
It’s a quick turn around with the foraging Deirdre, and constant moving. I like the Yuletide idea, and the wreath of pine branches sounds both beautiful and meaningful. Wishing you a wonderful Yuletide!
Megathanks. I am so very grateful that you focused on this family and shared the photo.
I hope that which ever category you fall into you have a peaceful love, laughter and bird filled Christmas.
Wishing you a wonderful Christmas season too EC