As I was exploring the Rouge-Cloître (Red Cloister) Park in Brussels, Belgium last weekend, I could hear some excited peeping coming from a heavily-vegetated area at the edge of a pond. Peering through the reeds, I could just make out the dark shapes and brightly-colored beaks of a pair of adult Common Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus).
As I kept watching I began to see several smaller shapes and realized there were baby chicks with the parents—there were at least three chicks and possibly more. The chicks and the parents remained mostly out of sight, but occasionally I got a partial glimpse of one of them through the vegetation as they moved about and managed to snap off a few shots.
I am also including a shot of an adult moorhen that I spotted earlier in the day at another park, in case you are not familiar with this bird species. In the photo you can’t help but notice that Common Moorhens have large feet that lack the webbing that we are used to seeing in ducks.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Benjamin and I are loving these Moorhen chicks. Benjamin says : “They are so cute and fluffy! The Mommy has a pretty red and yellow beak and really big feet!” We were wondering what season is it in Belgium? Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
It’s springtime here in Brussels, pretty much the same as where I live in Northern Virginia. One difference is that it is further north, so the days are longer. For example, it doesn’t get dark until after 9:00. I was thrilled when I saw the baby moorhens–I had seen adults before, but never chicks.
Great captures of these youngsters, Mike.