EOS R6 RF 100-500 @500 f8 1/500 ISO 2000 HH, Manual EXP, cropped for composition
Been biking daily around a local lake at a neighborhood park. Noticed three Gallinule families with a couple chicks each. On this overcast noon time ride finally decided to bring camera before the chicks got too big. Found Mom with three chicks tagging along at lakeside. Rode ahead, checked thoroughly for gators, laid right near waters edge. Mom went up the bank and around me while all three chicks continued to forage ahead. Wondered what would happen as they discovered Mom was far away and I now laid between Mom and chicks as they began to call. As Mom was working way back in the water, this one bold chick decided to run for her and got very close as a result. Love these ugly/cute young ones.