30 Days Wild 2021 – Day 12 – Ponds/Lakes – Coots

Sitting at the fishing lake today, a family of Coots (Fulica atra) were swimming around. The family were, mum, dad, juvenile and a baby.

Bit sad that there was only one baby with the as last weekend there were 2 others making 3. Thats the circle of life. Possibly taken by predators such as Pike, Heron or Fox. More likely to be a Pike as there are a couple of big ones on the pond/lake.

Coots are a water bird that make their nests in reedbeds or along the banks in cover. At the pond, they make a nest on a floating island so protected from preadators. Until they come out in the open.

The Coot has a distinctive shield white bill marking on the front of their heads.

Hopefully this family will survive as is going forward.

There are other species of Coots that fall under the Genus Fulica.