Mikepércs: Another Hazy Dawn

Thanks to the rain yesterday one could count on some haze at the pond, so it was no question wether to go there.

When I got out at about half past three heavy haze has been gathered above the water.

There's nothing around the hide for a while, then the birds start to turn up. First the little grebes ...:

Little Grebe

... then the coots, ...:

Coots

... and the ducks. A ferruginous duck begins bathing nearby:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

One of the coots snubs nearby after having been chased by another one:

Coot

The sun starts to colour the haze:

Coot

Young Coot

At a given angle one can get nice pastel colours:

Coot

Coot

Coot with its prey:

Coot

Coot

Young Coot

Young Coot

Little Grebe

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

The whiskered terns appear as well, investigating the surface of the water, ...:

Whiskered Tern

... they run for tadpoles as there's no fish in the pond:

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

One of the coots starts up:

Coot

Then another one:

Coot

Coot

Moreover, I can catch a running little grebe too:

Little Grebe

Bathing:

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Another coot attack:

Coot

I'm trying to catch the pouncing terns without success. Finally one of them lands on the water catching a frog and I can take photos of it. Unfortunately the background is not very good and I'm not satisfied with the shots.
Eventually I discover an approaching young grebe. However this is bigger than a little grebe! Then it must be a red-necked one! So the red-necked couple have breeded here after all! I haven't seen them for long and I thought they had left. Unfortunately the lights are strong already and I can't take a decent photo of it.

Mikepércs: Sprinkling Drops

I had a try yesterday as well but I only managed to shoot a black headed gull, however I wasn't satisfied with it. Because it rained last night, I decided to visit the pond again hoping that I would have a hazy dawn.
Getting out of the car I suspect that there won't be any haze as the wind is blowing. Never mind, I'm curious anyway.
A ferruginous duck starts bathing before sunrise, however that's not the best as a photo. Then the rays of the sun appear slowly. A little grebe starts bathing in "gold":

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Fortunately the ferruginous ducks don't stop bathing either:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

While I'm photographing a little grebe, a whole kindergarten swims in the scene, there are about 12 of them:

Ferruginous Duck

Unfortunately the background is not very good, so before I leave I try to set the hide so that it will be better next time. But the time won't stop and these little creatures grow so fast that they won't be so lovely after 7 days.

Mikepércs: Ferruginous Ducks And Little Grebes In Backlight

Yesterday I took my hide back to the "froggy" place in spite of the fact that the little grebes have been very active at the previous place. However I wasn't satisfied with the background. But I saw many ferruginous ducks bathing at the new place.
Today I set off under clear sky, I hope it will last until sunrise. Moreover, I discover signs of rain in the ponds region so there is hope for some haze.
The ducks start to bath long before sunrise, but they are a little bit far:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

The warbling little grebes arrive:

Little Grebe

There's a lot of duckweed on the water, this grebe has gathered a lot upon itself:

Little Grebe

The little grebes come quite close while the sun starts to colour the haze above the water:

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Another bathing duck:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Diving:

Little Grebe

This is a real steam-bath:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Little Grebe

Not only the coots but the little grebes are chasing each other as well:

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

The coot chicks are moving independently already:

Young Coot

The beautiful soft colours hold for about half an hour then the lights start to become harder:

Young Coot

Sprinkling vapours:

Ferruginous Duck (male)

Ferruginous Duck (male)