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Message: <blockquote data-quote="grebeman" data-source="post: 399188" data-attributes="member: 79">For some years I made a close study of Great Crested Grebes (Podiceps cristatus) at Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve where I used to volunteer. These images are from a long sequence taken at the nest as one bird relieves the other in the duty of incubating the eggs.[ATTACH=full]241373[/ATTACH]Here the returning bird on the right is climbing onto the nest. These birds are built for a life afloat and not on dry land, so even climbing onto the nest doesn't come easily. Once on the nest it began to poke at the sitting bird until the sitting bird got the message and prepared to give way to the returning bird.[ATTACH=full]241372[/ATTACH]The sitting bird is now preparing to leave the nest. At least one egg is visible under the rear end of its body.[ATTACH=full]241371[/ATTACH]The returning bird at the rear is looking down at the egg or eggs in the nest, at least one can be seen behind the departing bird.[ATTACH=full]241370[/ATTACH]With the departing bird out of the way the returning bird prepares to sit down on the clutch of eggs.Barrie</blockquote>