Mikepércs: Morning Macros

This morning I've had some time so I went out to the field nearby to take some macro shots.
The morning is cold, but the bugs start to wake up:

As soon as the sun starts to warm up the air the butterflies wake up as well:

Mikepércs: Coot Battle

It's the black-necked grebe that I have on the brain at dawn when I get into the hide. Is it still here or is it gone?
The wind is working, it wimples the surface of the water again. For my great surprise there are no ducks on the pond! Only coots and little grebes are around. As soon as a couple of ferruginous ducks land nearby the coots bundle them off. They are defending their territory conscientiously. As soon as an alien is closing to the border of the territory they attack. If the enemy is another coot big combats can evolve. This time I manage to catch something of the scene:

Coots

They have severe weapons:

Coots

Coots

Coots

Coots

Coots

Coots

Coots

After the battle the birds leave the place with a whole skin.

The water opens:

Coot

Coot

The tension grows:

Coot

Soon come the moments of peace:

Coot

Someone loses his temper again:

Coot

Coot

Mikepércs: Black-Necked Grebe

I feared that it would be overcast this morning, but the sky at dawn is clear. My hide has been swept again by the wind, fortunately not too far. It seems that the four sticks can't hold in the april winds, so I'm going to anchor it.
The photography starts with the little grebes:

Little Grebe

At last the couple is together, but I'm afraid, they don't pose:

Little Grebe

A bit later the ducks come:

Garganey (male)

Shoveler (male)

Nothing gets close for a long time, then I see a little grebe in the distance. However something is strange with it ... it's bigger than the others. I bring it into focus ... it's eyes are red! Wow! It's a black-necked one! I wish it came closer! It's behaving like a decent grebe, it ducks now and then under the water for several seconds then comes up. On one occasion it pops up quite close, it's peering at the hide:

Black-Necked Grebe

The ducks are there too, ...:

Shoveler (male)

Shoveler (male)

... some of them in pair:

Ferruginous Ducks

Gadwalls

The coot nearby tidies its territory from time to time, it bundles off all the "intruders":

Coot

Soon a couple of ferruginous ducks gives the theme:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (female)

Ferruginous Duck (female)

I've never seen such a thing: the male turns on his back and it's preening this way:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Meanwhile the black-necked grebe roams the whole pond and after some time it gets nearby again:

Black-Necked Grebe

The gadwalls are closing too:

Gadwall (male)

Gadwall (male)

Ferruginous Duck (female)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Eventually the black-necked grebe pops up really close:

Black-Necked Grebe

How beautiful ear tufts it's got!
This is what I've been waiting for! Perhaps next time we'll meet again.

Mikepércs: Golden Morning

When I got to the pond at dawn I'm glad that my hide is not swept by the wind this time :)

I don't have to wait long for the birds, there are more and more garganeys, shovelers and little grebes around my hide. The problem is that there's not enough light. And before daybreak the coots drive away all the birds nearby. This male doesn't seem to bother himself about it, he sleeps the sleep of the just:

Garganey (male)

After 6 o'clock the sun gilds the background beautifully:

Garganey (male)

Garganey (male)

Garganey (male)

Coot

Garganey (female)

A coot is coming:

Coot

Coot

It has the groaning boards under the water, it only needs to take the plunge for some food:

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

After some time, suddenly a panic takes place on the pond, the ducks are flying away, the coots and the little grebes are speeding in the reed. It must have appeared a man - I think, but when I look out in the side window then I notice a white tailed big bird above the next pond! It's a  white-tailed eagle! The birds don't come back for a long time, the lights are getting sharp so I don't wait any longer and leave.