Cormorant
Spells of sunlight and sudden showers at Leighton Moss. The light was poor, at first, but a cormorant showed rather well, perched on a post out on the water. White feathers on face and white thigh-patch define cormorant. Presiding over the wetland pool, the creature looks pterodactyl, a reptile clad in grey scales over breast and mantle. More like a cape of heavy plastic beads than feathers.
A great crested grebe was feeding along the fringe of the reed-bed. Alone in the hide, I followed the bird as it swam half-hidden amongst the reeds. The bird dived and came up jewelled with water droplets. It swam half-submerged, dark and amorphous. Hidden behind an islet of reeds, it must have dived and emerged much further off.
So, what did my camera see that I could not. Plumage sprinkled with water droplets after each dive. A tiny crustacean clasped in its mandibles. A banded wand of red that resembles an over-large common darter, a dragonfly that may well appear on the watery fringe of the reed bed. What is the mystery object the bird has fished-up? Several images show the bird swimming, head down rather like an otter. An intimate and unusual interlude. Great crested grebe often appear much further out in the water and being alone in the hide I could walk alongside the swimming bird, hidden but close. Just me and a great crested grebe and a water-rail squealing like a piglet.
A great crested grebe was feeding along the fringe of the reed-bed. Alone in the hide, I followed the bird as it swam half-hidden amongst the reeds. The bird dived and came up jewelled with water droplets. It swam half-submerged, dark and amorphous. Hidden behind an islet of reeds, it must have dived and emerged much further off.
So, what did my camera see that I could not. Plumage sprinkled with water droplets after each dive. A tiny crustacean clasped in its mandibles. A banded wand of red that resembles an over-large common darter, a dragonfly that may well appear on the watery fringe of the reed bed. What is the mystery object the bird has fished-up? Several images show the bird swimming, head down rather like an otter. An intimate and unusual interlude. Great crested grebe often appear much further out in the water and being alone in the hide I could walk alongside the swimming bird, hidden but close. Just me and a great crested grebe and a water-rail squealing like a piglet.
The morning grew bright and when the bird reappeared, much further off and with a mate, plumage showed in rich colours. The pair had a nest platform of floating vegetation on the fringe of the reed bed. Sometimes they sat together on the nest platform. Or swam a little further out into the pool but never far from the nest. One bird rose from the water with its bill stuffed with trailing weed. Great crested grebe have an elaborate courtship dance of synchronised swimming where one bird presents a gift of weed to the other. But not whilst I was watching.
I've seen their courtship rituals, watched grebe on a nest but I've never seen a grebe so close that I can tell what it's caught. Being alone with the grebe was rather special.
I've seen their courtship rituals, watched grebe on a nest but I've never seen a grebe so close that I can tell what it's caught. Being alone with the grebe was rather special.
Great crested grebe are spangled with water droplets after a dive. Preen- oil keeps feathers water-repellent.
Cormorant have less preen oil so their feathers hold water, clogging together to give the plastic, leathery look my image shows. On land, they frequently hold their wings spread wide to dry. With less efficient waterproofing the bird is less buoyant so it can swim lower and faster.
Cormorant have less preen oil so their feathers hold water, clogging together to give the plastic, leathery look my image shows. On land, they frequently hold their wings spread wide to dry. With less efficient waterproofing the bird is less buoyant so it can swim lower and faster.
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