Beautiful Birds (7): Cute Coots

I spent my teenage years in rural Norfolk,
the setting for part of Arthur Ransome's Coot Club tale
about the Callum children.

Perhaps this is why I find Coots fascinating.

The female above
was photographed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
some weeks ago.

This young Coot was spotted
in May, along the banks of the Thames.

We also saw those controversial Green Parakeets,
but they flew around in a frenzy and were too fast for the camera!

Mother Coots must be adept
at making the most of the material to hand.

It may be a case of the 'town mouse' and the 'country mouse'
(to mix metaphors for a moment);
but if I was a young Coot,

I know which nest I would choose!