Birds of a feather - beautiful shots capture tender moment grebe parents care for ‘humbug’ chick

These beautiful images capture the tender bond between a pair of great crested grebes and their tiny striped chick - including the fascinating moment the youngster is fed a feather.

Wildlife photographer Mark Lynham, 62, from Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, snapped the scenes at a lake in Milton Keynes earlier this week.

One striking shot shows the distinctive ‘humbug’-patterned chick riding safely on its parent’s back as it glides across the water, while another captures an adult delicately feeding it a feather.

Although it may look unusual, feeding feathers is a natural behaviour in grebes, helping protect the chick’s digestive system from sharp fish bones.

Mark said: “Capturing the chick riding on the parent is always special, and to get the feeding behaviour as well made it even more rewarding.

“The chicks are often referred to as ‘humbugs’ because of their markings.”

The images beautifully highlight the care and attention grebes show to their young in the early stages of life.

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