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David Pattyn's Image
David Pattyn (Belgium/the Netherlands) stays submerged, observing the first days of a new clutch of chicks.
David entered his floating hide two hours before sunrise to avoid disturbing the family of great crested grebes. Wearing layers of wetsuits to stay warm, he watched unnoticed as the adults tirelessly fed their brood of stripy chicks.
Grebes are known for feeding their chicks invertebrates and small fish as well as small feathers. Feathers have little nutritional value but may aid digestion by slowing the passage of food and help regurgitation by wrapping around ingested bones.
Behind the lens
David Pattyn
Belgium/the Netherlands
David has always had a passion for wildlife and often travels with his wife and two sons in search of it. As a photographer he mainly focuses on subjects for long periods, as he believes this results in better images. In the past he has completed projects on grebes, pelicans and, in recent years, the Alps.
Image details
- Sony α9 II
- 400mm f2.8 lens
- 1/1000 sec at f8 • ISO 1250 • floating hide + Benro swing head
- Valkenhorst Nature Reserve, Valkenswaard, the Netherlands
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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