Crested Grebe-Fighting Moorhens

[Bevb]

Went to the Heronry again today, lots of baby herons heads wiggling around in their nests up in the trees, but i concentrated on the these Crested Grebes which have started to build their nest close to the bank, and the moorhens were getting territorial, with the males having fistycuffs.

[SmartWombat]

I hope you get the grebes carrying the babies.
And the young's begging behaviour.

Do you know why the adults hang weed over low hanging branches?
It's not for food, as they ignored it for days after having done it.
It's nowhere near the nest, and not enough of it to screen the young let alone adults.
I'm baffled ...

[Knight]

Awsome fight scene Bev good series

[payn817]

The moorhens are too funny! Nice shots.

[Copy_Kot]

Bev, Crested Grebes are probably my favorite European water birds. They look amazing when they walk/dance on the water... thank you for sharing these!

The fighting Moorhens are great too!

[big baldo]

HAA!!! great shots!! Moorhen pic is really cool. Grebes, coots, moorhens, gallinule and rails are all my favorites!!!!!!

[Bevb]

Thanks Paul, Copy, Knight, Big Baldo & Payn.
I agree the Grebe is a beautiful bird, and i think Paul that its said that the Grebe will offer pieces of weed to its partner as a token of friendship (female does the same) during the courting period, and pieces of it get placed around the chosen nest site,(but not always where the nest is finally built) you can see them diving and coming up with pieces, sometimes they will exchange it, otherwise it gets placed in a convenient site.
Cant wait till the babies are about, they look like little convicts being carried about with their black and white stripey coats.

[karen m.]

Thanks for sharing these pictures, Bev, they are delightful.

[Yarrow]

They are great. I love the fighting one.Its kinda funny .I've never seen birds fight before

[Loupey]

That's some wild looking crests. Great shots - I'd be all over them too.

The fighting moorhens are a riot! I guess that's what men do when they get into a shoving match and have no arms.

[Bevb]

Thanks Karen, Yarrow and Loupey, yes il give it a week, as back off tothe caravan by the river for a few more days from tomorrow, then il go and check to see if there are any young Grebes, and the baby herons should be grounded by then.

[pympster]

Love the shots! The fighting shot is particulally funny!