Moorhens can do as well. This is a brief sequence of some moorhen mating 'challenges'. Once again I was on the wrong side of the lake, but even so it's clear moorhens take this kind of jousting extremely seriously 😀
Moorhens jousting. Note the coot racing towards them!
The coot did chase the moorhens out of the water, but the fighting continued on dry land.
There was also a good-sized flock of red-crested pochards on the water. They were very active, with lots of diving and shaking.
They even made a brief fly-past (twice).
The oddest confrontation of the day though was between a pigeon and a coot. The pigeon was very persistent, pecking at the coot until it drove it a whole couple of feet away from a particular patch of grass. Why? I've absolutely no idea!
Plus a rat. Yes, they're still around.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM.
18 Comments
Again wonderful pictures! A similar bird fight I once had at my house. I own 7 budgies and 2 male birds often fought against each other for a hen until they were bloody. They had to be separated. Perhaps it was the same with the moorhens.
Hello. I love your pictures. They are very very nice and beautiful. Shirazi:The Nature=God cinema. I love nature. Lies, war,theft, tyranny and…Injustice to humanity, but the destruction of nature's worst
Great picture!
But there is something going on at the lake.
For me, the river is disputed only by the bread.
http://my.opera.com/wellisteffi/blog/2011/01/09/einlosung-eines-versprechen
I wonder what made everyone so fractious?
Is it a mating season now? That would explain a lot :left:
7Wellis, yes it's all about mating and it can get quite violent. I can scarcely imagine budgies fighting like that, but I guess it's nature and they are evenly matched.
Erwin, thanks… and for liking the rat 😀
Ali, thanks! I'm glad you like them 🙂
Adele, the pigeon was just odd. It was really bossing the coot about. It was a fairly crowded patch of grass but the whole thing seemed wonderfully pointless, and I suspect the coot thought so too.
The rats seem to be being slightly more discreet at the moment (well not packs of them roaming openly), but this one did wander out briefly.
Steffi, ah food! Yes that always causes disputes as well. :chef:
My, my, more violence! :knight: :no: What on earth was that pigeon up to? Did the coot say something to offend it? :left:
That's a great portrait shot of the rat!
Darko, it's the start of the mating season, getting ready for spring chicks.
Mick, time of year, I guess! Interesting to see which species is making the most noise at a given time. If the swans start kicking off I'll be keeping my distance!
Why that pigeon! :eyes:
It's wonderful the way you've captured them in the air in the 4th and 5th ones.
The rat actually has a very sweet face. I don't think I've ever thought that of a rat, at least of the undomesticated variety.
Lois, I was really a bit too far off (I only had a 200mm lens with me), but they were putting on such a good display that I wanted to capture something of the moment.
I've become really quite fond of the rats. I agree, they can look really quite cute. It helps when they have a woodland setting. Much more natural.
Andy, what goes on in the mind of a park pigeon :sherlock: or :doh:
Beautiful shots :up: also the rat….:up: