Mikepércs: Dwindled Activity

My last time's try at the pont was a disaster for I wasn't able to take a single expo. I saw one or two little grebes farther, but most of them having disappeared, just like the many coots, of which I didn't see a single one. That's why I moved the hide near the opposite bank where I had seen the little grebes. And today I was hoping to be more lucky.

There was some rain yesterday and seeing the fog this morning I'm hoping to take some foggy shots. There's not much light yet when two young and an adult moorhen are coming out of the reed. They don't come too close, yet I'm giving a try:

Moorhen

Young Moorhen

The adult moves farther, but the youngs don't go with it, they are picking the food out of water nearby. It takes some time for them to get closer. The Sun is shining by this time:

Young Moorhen

At last a young little grebe is swimming quickliy near the hide followed by its company who is doing a quick preening on its way:

Young Little Grebe

After some time they return swimming as close as 2-3 meters from me:

Young Little Grebe

Unfortunately there wasn' happening too much this morning, it seems that this year's water photography is coming to an end.

Mikepércs: The Surrounding Changes

After the recent unsuccessful photography I had to move on my hide if I wanted to get something. I didn't have too much expectations, but as the water is closer you never know...

The first theme today would be: mating pond turtles, if there was enough light. But there's not. Then an avocet is landing on the water, it's having a bath, it's preening but the setting isn't good in the direction of the water. So, I can't take any decent shots of the bathing little ringed plover, lapwing, redshank and wood sandpiper either.

Then mallards appear and after bathing walk to the shore to preen themselves:

Mallard (male)

A sort of neck-excercise:

Mallard (female)

Mallard (male)

Mallard (male)

Here and there moorhens appear but they are too far.
Then a nice surprise: a collard dove is landing nearby:

Collared Dove

Collared Dove

Collared Dove

After some search it flies away.
The ducks' long preening process is followed by a rest:

Mallards

For my greatest pleasure a gadwall arrives, and after preening it's having a rest too. Unfortunately it's a bit far.
A moorhen appears again, this time giving me the chance for taking photos of it. A big cry:

Moorhen

Moorhen

Moorhen

Later the mallards finish their rest, ...:

Mallard (female)

... start preening again, ...:

Mallard (male)

... and slowly leave one after the other.

Perhaps the gadwall will appear again next time settling down a bit closer and perhaps the moorhens will come closer as well, to be voracious.

Mikepércs: Life On The Lake

Every time I go to the pond, I have to realize that I haven't got up early enough, because by the time I get to the hide it's getting light and I bundle off the birds. It wasn't different today either. But the weather conditions were prosperous: no wind, the early mist above the water makes photography more interesting.

A couple of little grebes however floated too early near the hide, there wasn't enough light for photography. Though they were close indeed this time. Then the mist started to disappear with the sunshine and the birds became visible:

Coot

The birds stayed especially near the opposite shore of the pond except the black winged stilts which were attracted by the shallow water near the hide:

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Near the opposite shore two swans appeared as well:

Mute Swans

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

This mallard floated quite close to my hide:

Black-winged Stilt

I tried to take backlight shots of the coots:

Coot

Coot

Coot

The usual wing fluttering:

Coot

Coot

Black-winged Stilt

Coot

Two avocets appeared for a short time, here's one of them:

Avocet

Meanwhile the scenes went on by backlight:

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

Coot

The stilts sometimes came very close while searching for food in the water:

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Meanwhile I was a witness of the stilts' nuptial activity. I saw them mating 3 times this morning. First one was taking place by good light conditions. Before mating the female takes the usual posture and waits for the male's approach ...:

Black-winged Stilt

... which goes round her a few times flapping the water with its beak then fumbles in his plumage a bit with his beak...:

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Then it jumps on the back of the female and they mate:

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

When the job's done and the male has put his feet onto the ground they stay together a few moments joyfully ...:

Black-winged Stilt

... before they continue their usual activity:

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Then I caught a little grebe fluttering its wings:

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Then a redshank came for a bath:

Redshank

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

Black-winged Stilt

This moorhen floated here from the opposite shore:

Moorhen

Later a few male mallards approached the hide while feeding:

Mallard (male)

Although they floated on the water they required a good bath too:

Mallard (male)

Mallard (male)

Mallard (male)

The photographer should be prepared as they usually make a few flaps with their wings after the bath:

Mallard (male)

Mallard (male)

A few whiskered terns and black terns appeared above the water, they splashed sometimes into the water, even had a bath:

Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern

One of them settled on top of a stick near the hide and stayed there for hours.

Feeding:

Mallard (male)

Suddenly I could hear a female mallard's quiet voice, then it appeared soon. But look! It's not alone! About 12 little hatchlings are following her. They stopped in front of the hide, ...:

Mallard

... to continue their way after a short time.

Fortunately they floated near the hide a few times, so I could take a few shots of them:

Mallard

It was amazing to watch how the little creatures were picking insects eagerly from the water: 

Mallard

Sometimes they set off like a bullet after an insect:

Mallard

Mallard

They are most charming at this age.

After some time they disappeared somewhere near the opposite shore of the pond. I hope I meet them next time too.

This morning has been a great experience, and I managed to aquire a rich stuff today.