There are all sorts of fascinating collective nouns for birds. A 'murmuration of starlings' is one, an 'exultation of larks' is another. But today it's all about the coot. In fact it's about a 'covert of coots' to use the established phrase. 'Cacophony' or 'chapel' would do just as well to my way of thinking (the former for the sound, the later for their monkish dress), but 'covert' it is. Covert, but not undercover. 
Covert of Coots
Grouped together like that, they seem so placid. But the slightest thing can set them off… especially when the 'slightest thing' is a passer-by with a bag of bread! Then woe betide anything that gets in their way!
The lone swan apart, the larger water fowl were congregating on firmer ground.
And they were occasionally picking fights… two Canada geese:
Finally, a very brief clip of a badger from the garden last night.
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RobinL
15 Jan 2011Words, what a great covert it is! You just forced me to look up the collective list of bird nouns! I'm better informed, but some of them are puzzling! A Cacophony would certainly describe that lot! The Wikipedia list is quite extensive!
Great shots!
gdare
15 Jan 2011Those geese are hilarious. Maybe they are related? :whistle:
Words
15 Jan 2011Darko, they could be. I liked the way the goose on the right is so obviously unimpressed by the antics of the one sticking its tongue out!
Words
15 Jan 2011Robin, Wikipedia was my source as well. The shots only show a small number of them. A wider lens would have produced some impressive shots showing the extent of the flock.
wellisteffi
15 Jan 2011Great pictures.
What a mess.
The last picture is crazy.
The goose stretches the other out the tongue. 😆
I could take pictures yesterday from Canada geese.
Did not at it we are also Canada geese.
http://my.opera.com/wellisteffi/blog/2011/01/15/gaste-auf-uberflutete-felder
cakkleberrylane
15 Jan 2011I really enjoyed the last photo the Canada goose!! The other one looks as if he's a little non plussed.
Words
15 Jan 2011Steffi, a 'mess of coots'. That would work as well!
Nice shots of your geese! The number of Canada geese in Europe makes me wonder whether they have any left in Canada :confused:
Words
15 Jan 2011Lois, thanks! The second goose in that shot was really not very interested in responding. It would have made a great shot if it had though!
Words
15 Jan 2011Erwin, thanks!
Mickeyjoe-Irl
15 Jan 2011Originally posted by Words:
Looking at the water I would have called them a jacuzzi. 😀
cakkleberrylane
15 Jan 2011Still… an awesome photo!
wellisteffi
16 Jan 2011Apparently this is a good climate,
to many strange birds.
I'm not just Canada geese in the last
time seen, but Nile geese and
even necked Parakeets. 😉
Words
16 Jan 2011Mick, a 'jacuzzi of coots' is good! :up:
Words
16 Jan 2011Steffi, we have some Nile geese in the park as well, but I''ve not seen any parakeets.
SittingFox
16 Jan 2011Nice to see the badger again!
Coots. Well. I always did say that they seemed out of this world :alien:
serola
16 Jan 2011Canada geese picking fight is the best! 😆
wellisteffi
16 Jan 2011Here is the link. :up:
http://my.opera.com/wellisteffi/blog/2010/12/25/ein-unerwartetes-fotomodell
Words
16 Jan 2011Steffi, thanks for the link to the snow-bound parakeets!
Words
16 Jan 2011Sami, thanks! I couldn't *not* include that shot of the geese. 😀
Words
16 Jan 2011Adele, badgers are always very welcome visitors. As for the coots… crazy creatures, but great fun.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Great shots