I found the two adults dozing side-by-side under an Oak tree:
After a time, one of them swam off. On his return, he approached the other bird and gave him- or her- a nudge with his beak:
Getting no response, he swam off again!
I was very happy to see the chick out and about on the lake:
It is interesting to see how he is maturing. He now has the definite beginnings of a black crest and more signs of the adults' russet-red in his plumage, although he retains some of his zebra-like neck stripes:
He may be maturing but he is still very much a chick, still trying to make contact with his parents, still making his piteous "cheep-cheeps". Today he yet again approached them:
but they raced off (a Cormorant simultaneously leaping out of the water):
He followed them. They settled under one of the Alder trees and he bravely drew closer to them- his cheeps getting more frantic:
But again he was rejected and chased off in a very unfriendly manner!
You know it's all part of growing up but you can't help empathizing with him- he looks so pathetic and "lonesome"!
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