Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) parent and chick at Lunt Meadows, Merseyside.

I cannot express how beautiful I find the Avocet. They are such elegant and striking birds. The way they move, seeming to careful consider each footstep before delicately placing it into the water with barely a ripple. Well, that is until they fly into what can only be described as a random moment of violent rage. Screeching and dive bombing the other poor waders they reluctantly share their pool with before finally coming to land back on the spot their flight of terror began from.

Avocet may not be the most successful at rearing their young. They seem almost as liberal as my parents were, letting their young wander far away from them while they learn to hunt for themselves. That being said, they always seem to have their ears open and dash over when ever they hear a distress call from their young.

This image presents a particularly tender moment I witnessed between parent and child.

The light was starting to get lower in the sky and the wind began to bring a chill to the air. The chick had already won my heart, stalking through the shallows then all of a sudden dashing forward, slashing the water with its beak in a way that resembled the adults behaviour, but needing a little more practice, and possibly longer legs and beak, to perform it effectively.

The adult avocet began to vocalise, calling the youngster over. The chick responding with short, single note calls; a softer, more childlike version of the parent’s. As the chick neared, the adult opened up its wing. The youngster nuzzled in deep and the protective wing was closed around it. The moment brought back memories of being that child seeking shelter and the warm embrace of a loving parent when I needed it. This moment elevated avocets into my list of, not only favourite birds, but favourite animals overall. I look forward to seeing more of their parental behaviour in the future.

Sadly, there was more than one juvenile at this pool when I first saw them but only this one remained by the time I took this photo. I’m hoping it survived until it was able to leave when its parents did.

For details on Lunt Meadows, or to support wildlife in the area, visit Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s website.

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