Crazy Coots (Picture Special)

By Words | Published January 5, 2011

Yesterday I posted a few shots of the coots in Regent's Park going through their preliminary mating rituals (ie males fighting for dominance). I went back today, and this time they were gathered in a wider part of the lake, and much closer to the footpath. Several pairs were challenging each other providing a fascinating half hour, and plenty of opportunities to capture some of the action. So here goes…

With such obvious stars on show, there's no room today for the geese (I will post some soon), but I do want to squeeze in some more shots to show that the coots are not the only battling birds around at the moment. Take magpies. These three were engaging in some localized fighting of their own.

Which they continued in a nearby tree…

Meanwhile, overhead a local heron was being seen off by a belligerent crow (a passing pigeon is keeping a safe distance in this shot).

As for the rats… they were just running for cover. But it was nice to see them again 😉

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM.

This entry was posted in rats, water birds and tagged , , , , .

10 Comments

  1. Dudley January 6, 2011 at 2:01 pm #

    A violent park to be in! 🙂

  2. Ukwildlife January 6, 2011 at 7:01 pm #

    Great stuff. The coots in regents seem especially violent. I think its the large numbers crammed onto the lake. I actually got splashed there last year!

  3. cakkleberrylane January 7, 2011 at 8:01 pm #

    Plenty of action there!

  4. Words January 7, 2011 at 9:01 pm #

    Lois, it's always busy, but at the moment they are much more interested in each other than in human food sources (which is how it should be).

  5. Words January 7, 2011 at 9:01 pm #

    Neil, they're crazy when they're like this. It was much quieter today for some reason. Most of water fowl were splashing around in the mud along the path rather than spending time in the water!

  6. Words January 7, 2011 at 9:01 pm #

    Andy, they do cut up rough at this time of year 😀

  7. wellisteffi January 8, 2011 at 12:01 pm #

    Great post. :up:

  8. Words January 8, 2011 at 9:01 pm #

    Thanks Steffi!

  9. Words January 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm #

    Adele, I love the way they use those absurd feet. They do occasionally get into some biting as well, but it's largely bluster by the look of it.

  10. SittingFox January 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm #

    How violent! :knight:

    Wonderful action shots though!