Where Did She Go?

Were these small chicks bothered when their mother just dropped out of sight?
Not at all.
Three (out of five) very young coot chicks out and about - probably on their first day away from the nest.

The reason I think this was their first outing is because while I was photographing them, a crow came in and stole an egg from their nest - presumably a sterile one but one of the parents got really mad about it. The crow later returned and was driven of that time but flew towards the chicks instead. Fortunately, the parents did a great job and they didn't lose one.

Elsewhere on the loch there were two pairs of great-crested grebes each with young. The nesting pair near the car park were still sitting. I even saw an egg during changeover.

Many other coots all over the loch - most now with young. Moorhens with chicks as well.