Vekeri-Lake: Looking For Grebes

This year the Veri-Lake was filled up with water. But yellow flowers have covered its surface too. I became curious about how the birds would look like among these flowers. Previously I have caught a swan from the shore, ...:

Mute Swan

... but I wanted to make closer photos. Thats why I've given a try today at dawn from a self-made raft. The great crested grebe gave me some chance, ...:

Great Crested Grebe

... just like the coots, ...:

Coot

Coot

... but the good scenes missed.

Lake Fancsika: Dew Again

A got some dew again at the Lake Fancsika this morning.

I've taken up my post on the water before sunrise, hoping to catch the beautiful colours of the rising sun and the dew. 

Nothing comes close for a while then suddenly I notice a curious little grebe nearby:

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Little Grebe

Opposite to me appear the first rays of sun, the coots however are a little far but still visible behind the dew:

Coot

Some quarreling:

Coot

When I get to the shore the swan family appear, the youngs trying their wings while running on the water, the adults after taking off are flying two full circles above the water, perhaps to show the youngs how to fly:

Mute Swan

Mute Swan

Trip To Germany And Austria

Between 21. and 25. of August I made a trip to Germany and Austria with my children. The misty morning, for wich I wait for months at home, found me on the first morning at the Main river. On top of that a swan family came floating towards me ...:

Mute Swan

... then coming to the shore to preen:

Mute Swan

I tried some evening photography at Forggensee:

In Austra we went along the Grossglockner alpine road that crossed the mountain and got near the highest peek of the Austrian Alps, the Grossglockner:

The Grossglockner (3798 m)

The serpentine that crossed the mountain:

I didn't manage to take a good shot of the marmots, although we saw a few.

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.