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.

Mikepércs: Pochards

Today at dawn I trusted to photograph lots of ducks in calm weather.

It's still dark when I arrive to the pond, but I can see something bright on the water not too far. Is it my hide being swept there by the strong wind the other day? I'm getting closer ... yes, my suspicion proved to be true, my hide is not on its place. Fortunately its window is facing to me, so I can find out easily where it it. But it takes some time to put everything on its place. Unfortunately I managed to brush off a few ducks.

There's not much light when a few garganeys appear. A little farther a coot is doing some exercise when the sun starts to appear:

Coot

The little grebes start their daily route:

Little Grebe

The ducks however don't want to come closer, though they are here, just farther. It seems that the coot nearby has monopolized this area and it bundles off all the intruders.

A bit later a group of pochards appear, they are getting out of the reed and are approaching. They don't seem flustered, ...:

Pochard (male)

... they are scratching themselves, ...:

Pochard (male)

Pochard (male)

... and preening:

Pochard (male)

Pochard (male)

Pochard (male)

Pochard (male)

Pochard (male)

One of them starts to raise, ...:

Pochard (male)

... this is the sign of the "morning exercise":

Pochard (male)

Pochard (male)

Pochard (male)

Stretching:

Pochard (male)

There are females among the males as well but they don't come close enough.

Finally a little grebe swims accross in front of the hide. It looks so funny with its upstanding tiny tail:

Little Grebe