Mikepércs: Coots

Today the coots were playing the main role, although a little grebe was the first to come within shooting distance:

Little Grebe

Then the coots got closer and closer while feeding:

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

They were chasing each other quite often. After such an event they readjusted their plumage by flapping their wings then shocking themselves:

Coot

Coot

It seems they get sleepy too with filled stomach:

Coot

Chasing each other:

Coots

Coots

Coot

Coot

Dozing:

Coot

Besides the coots there were gadwalls, shovelers, pochards, ferruginous ducks, garganeys and mallards on the pond, but too far to take a good shot of them. Even a flock of cranes appeared in the sky, they spent a few minutes there circling, perhaps they were searching for a secure place to land nearby. Later they returned then disappeared in the distance.

Mikepércs: Black-winged Stilt

I was unable to create anything worthwhile at the pond last time, as the birds didn't come close enough, so I moved my hide on, where the water was shallow an I have a chance for shorebirds as well. Last time I saw a few shorebirds and black-winged stilts there. 

This morning two redshanks appeared near the hide then two black-winged stilts came to get some food:

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Unfortunately the coots were floating far from the hide, although they were chasing each other many times. The little grebes didn't come closer either, not to mention the ducks. Later however some of the coots did approach the hide for a few minutes:

Coot

Coot

Kisújszállás: Photography At The Tower Hide And At The Fish Pond

One of my photos of a marsh tit obtained the "Photo of the week" title at birdphotography.hu (BPH). This meant that I got a possibility to take photos in the hides of Zoltán Pabar at Kisújszállás. Today was appointed the day for this purpose. I set off at early dawn to get there by half past five and meet Zoltán and my fellow, Károly Szalai. Zoltán took us at his tower hide, where we could go for kestrels. Many of the nesting boxes placed on the trees nearby have been occupied by birds, the kestrels were preparing for breeding. They were mating, catching mice, but they were doing these things everywhere but the landing branch in front of us. There was only one occasion when a female settled on it:

Kestrel (female)

They mostly landed on the branch close to the hide:

Kestrel (female)

Kestrel (male)

Kestrel (male)

Other birds lived on this place too, for example jackdaws, ...:

Jackdaw

... and starlings, which were breeding in the nesting boxes placed for them:

Starling

Starling

Starling

Starling

Starling

In the afternoon we went to a hide at a fishpond. When we got there the grey-lag geese were resting on the reef in front of the hide. On our oncoming they flew off, but returned quite soon:

Grey-lag Goose

Grey-lag Goose

Some of the geese left, others came, so we could record their take off, ...:

Grey-lag Goose

Grey-lag Goose

Grey-lag Goose

Grey-lag Goose

... and their arrival:

Grey-lag Goose

Grey-lag Goose

Grey-lag Goose

Grey-lag Goose

Later in the distance appeared an osprey, which sometimes flew closer then flew away to return some minutes later. Unfortunately it didn't come close enough for a good shot. Anyway, I can show the moment when it flew off after having captured a fish:

Osprey

Grey-lag Goose

Besides the grey-lag geese two white-fronted geese appeared on the reef as well but I wasn't able to take a decent shot of them.
Later a cormorant approached the reef afloat to climb on a branch:

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

It was having a long rest, yawning sometimes, ...:

Cormorant

Cormorant

... and adjusting its plummage:

Cormorant

Cormorant

Cormorant

Then it jumped into the water and floated away.

Later it got overcast, the good lights were over so we decided to leave.
All in all it has been a nice day, I returned home with some nice experience, although it's a pity we couldn't take more shots of the kestrels.
I'd like to thank Zoltán Pabar and the BPH this opportunity and I hope this hasn't been the last occasion having taken photos at Zoltán's hides.