Martin Mere, Southport, Lancashire, UK 13th May, 2015. Springtime at the Wetland Centre in Burscough near Rufford where Moorhens are raising their newly hatched fluffy brood. The colourful word of flowering foliage and wildlife with birds and waterfowl in full breeding plumage. The Wetland Centre will once again be home to a newly-hatched batch of adorable ducklings this spring, with its special Downy Ducklings Days taking place from over the Holiday weekend. Credit: Mar Photographics/Alamy Live News
The Moorhen appears mostly black, but a closer look reveals blackish-brown upperparts and grey-black below. Underneath the tail (undertail coverts) are white and there is a white line along the flank. The bill and frontal shield (forehead) is red, the bill having a yellow tip. The legs and feet are a striking yellow-green, and if you are lucky you may catch a glimpse of the red "garter" at the top of the legs. The toes are lobed, not webbed. The eye is red. Moorhen chicks have black, downy feathers except round the eye and bill. Juveniles have browner underparts and lack the red frontal shield. Moorhens - Raising the Brood For a day or so the newly hatched chicks are fed on the nest with a parent brooding them (keeping them warm) most of the time. But they soon venture out onto the water. The rail family (moorhens, Coots etc.) feed their young rather than just leading them to where food is in the manner of ducks. From now on there is an endless procession of the 'minor' inhabitants of the pond and it surroundings brought to fill the ever demanding beaks.
Size: 3600px × 2400px
Location: Martin Mere, Southport, Lancashire, UK
Photo credit: © MediaWorldImages / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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