Plovers in Diamond Creek, Vic.

We were visiting friends in Diamond Creek last week, and heard a commotion outside. Our friends said their cat must have disturbed the Plovers, who have built their nest on the flat roof. They said there are babies somewhere because they can hear them cheeping, but haven't been able to find them. I went outside with my camera to take some photos and the Plovers became very agitated, so I figured their babies must be fairly close.

I moved around the yard until I could hear cheeping on the other side of a fence. When I leaned over the fence, one of the adult plovers flew up at me, so I ducked back, and when it was back on the roof I had another peep over the fence and saw one chick. Staying very still but still visible.

More quails!

The last time I posted here, I said that Ken had trouble breeding these little birds in the past.  Well, he must have got a winner with this little hen - she is the same one who had the chickens back in March this year.  She has been sitting on 9 eggs, and two weeks ago, five of them hatched and are still alive and healthy.   She is such a good little mother - even though they are twice the size they were when they hatched, she can still fit them all under her wings when they run to her for warmth and protection.