Mikepércs: I Succeeded!

I'm expecting the beautiful colours of sunrise again in my hide. The first rays have already long appeared, birds nowhere yet, I mean the coots are only among the vegetation, and the little grebes are enjoying themselves around the hide, one of them just in front of the window. Sometimes I've got the feeling that they climb on the pipes that are holding the hide. They are distracting me for some time, then they set off for a tour around the pond.
I start to feel that I won't have anything this morning when a garganey comes! It moves slowly in front of the hide, ...:

Garganey 

Garganey

Garganey

... then it steps up on the trunk I have placed it there before:

Garganey

It starts preening:

Garganey

Garganey

Garganey

Garganey

Garganey

Then it takes off suddenly to return after half an hour (if it's the same bird). It steps up on the trunk again:

Garganey

Garganey

Garganey

I will concentrate better on the take-off this time - at least I think so - however I miss the moment again. It flies away joining its fellows.

After a few minutes a coot is bundling something among the reed and this something is coming in front of me. and that's what I'm wating for weeks! The red-necked grebe! Now it's right in front of me and is dealing with something:

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

It dives ... I follow the bubbles and the rufflings of water, and as soon as it comes up, it's swimming away disappearing among the vegetation. But I succeeded!
Moreover, its mate (I think) is coming too, ...:

Red-necked Grebe

... stopping for a moment, ...:

Red-necked Grebe

... and moving on.

Soon the garganey returns having a bath ...:

Garganey

... then flapping its wings:

Garganey

Of course it steps up the trunk again to preen itself:

Garganey

Garganey

Garganey

Garganey

Meanwhile a gadwall appears but doesn't come close.

The little grebes return regularly to the hide, they seem to feel themselves very well around it, I can see one of them through the side window having a rest right next to the hide, it doesn't do anything, just turning its head every now and then, so that it doesn't look always in the same direction :)

As the lights become strong I decide to leave. I have already packed my equipment when another pair of little grebes meet the ones near my hide, which bundle off the strangers from their territory. I'm trying to assemble my equipment quickly, but it's too late.

A little later I pack it again when the garganey appears once again:

Garganey

This time it doesn't stay, it moves on.

Just like me.

Mikepércs: Scarce Swallowtail

I set off towards the forest this morning searching for spring related themes.
Somewhere in the forest I find lots of yellow flowers, so I take a few shots of them:

Greater Celandine

A bug is peeping out from behind a blade of grass:

I'm trying to catch the bees that come to the flowers of a hawthorn bush when a scarce swallowtail lands to have a suck at the flower's nectar:

Scarce Swallowtail

Scarce Swallowtail

Scarce Swallowtail

Mikepércs: Ducks

I've been hoping that the red-necked grebe would reappear today.
I thought I set off early enough today, but I could see already quite well reaching the pond.
After having made some weeding in front of the hide, I'm just getting in when a pochard arrives. If only I've been quicker by just a few minutes, then it wouldn't notice me and would land. However, there's no light anyway for photography, and who knows how long it would stay there?
Nothing comes for a long time, only the little grebes are "giggling" nearby, many times very close to the hide. One of them is looking its reflection in the hide's window with interest.
The sun is already up when ferruginous ducks arrive ...:

Ferruginous Duck

... then a gadwall lands. First it's having a bath ...:

Gadwall (male)

... followed by the usual wing-beating:

Gadwall (male)

Then it comes quite close:

Gadwall (male)

A pochard pops up as well, ...:

Pochard (male)

All the ducks take off when I notice the cause of the panic: a white-tailed eagle! After half a minute I can see it flying across the pond in the side window. It's a huge bird!
It's come again! What a pity that it hasn't flewn in front of me.

The coots are chasing each other, I can catch one of them:

Coot

A few ferruginous ducks are landing again, two males are chasing a female:

Ferruginous Duck

The female comes close:

Ferruginous Duck (female)

Ferruginous Duck (female)

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Ferruginous Duck (female)

Ferruginous Duck (female)

After some rest it's pleasant to make some stretching:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Mikepércs: Meadow Buttercup

This morning I visited the meadow nearby searching for spring flowers. I found lots of meadow buttercups. Everything was dewy, the rising sun gave a nice backlight:

Meadow Buttercup

Meadow Buttercup

Mikepércs: It Came Closer At Last...

The alarm-clock wakes me at 4:20. Looking out of the window I can see some mist outside. Wow! I might have a nice day!
There's even more mist around the pond. I'm worried about the growing water vegetation that could hinder my photography.
Nothing happens for long, I can see only a few ducks in the distance. The little grebes and the coots stay clear of me. The lights become better and better as the rays of sun enlighten the mist above the water beautifully. If only I were near the other bank, where I placed my hide first! Several pochards have gathered there, but sometimes garganeys and ferruginous ducks land there as well. I can't see them well because of the vegetation, but I'm trying:

Pochard (male)

Garganey (male)

The ducks are regularly bundled off by the coots, but they always return. The pochards are chasing each other as well:

Pochards (male)

Suddenly I catch sight of the red-necked grebe! It's not close this time either, but it's here at least! I can hear even its voice many times as it moves on.
As there's nothing else, I try to catch the flying ducks:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Later something pops up nearby: Oh, it's the red-necked grebe:

Red-necked Grebe

I'm afraid I can't take may shots, it moves on and the vegetation hides it as well :(
At the end of photography I take the hide back, where it used to be hoping to have more themes.