Great Crested Grebe by Welshpixels

Great Crested Grebe by Welshpixels
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Great Crested Grebe

A bird I've long wanted to see. I was delighted to get this picture of it and even more surprised to see that I'd caught two. A delightfully elegant waterbird with ornate head plumes which led to its being hunted for its feathers, almost leading to its extermination from the UK. They dive to feed and also to escape, preferring this to flying. On land they are clumsy because their feet are placed so far back on their bodies. They have an elaborate courtship display in which they rise out of the water and shake their heads. Very young grebes often ride on their parents' backs.

Fishing Egret by Welshpixels

Fishing Egret by Welshpixels
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Fishing Egret

The little egret Egretta garzetta is a small white heron with attractive white plumes on crest, back and chest, black legs and bill and yellow feet. It first appeared in the UK in significant numbers in 1989 and first bred in Dorset in 1996. Its colonization followed naturally from a range expansion intro western and northern France in previous decades. It is now at home on numerous south coast sites, both as a breeding species and as a winter visitor. Little egret feathers were once very popular for decorating hats.

Landing Drake by Welshpixels

Landing Drake by Welshpixels
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Did you know that female ducks make the familiar quacking sound that we associate with ducks. The male  or drake gives an occasional subdued, horse sounding 'raarb' call.

Cruising Tufted Duck by Welshpixels

Cruising Tufted Duck by Welshpixels
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The tufted duck is a medium-sized diving duck, smaller than a mallard. It is black on the head, neck, breast and back and white on the sides. It has a small crest and a yellow eye. In flight it shows an obvious white stripe across the back of the wing. It breeds in the UK across lowland areas of England, Scotland and Ireland, but less commonly in Wales, with most birds being residents. Numbers increase in the UK in winter because of birds moving to the UK from Iceland and northern Europe. 

Moorhen by Welshpixels

Moorhen by Welshpixels
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The moorhen is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird, that is usually found near water. From a distance it looks black with a ragged white line along its body. Up close it is olive-brown on the back and the head and underneath are blue-grey. It has a red bill with a yellow tip. It breeds in the UK in lowland areas, especially in central and eastern England. It is scarce in northern Scotland and the uplands of Wales and northern England. UK breeding birds are residents and seldom travel far. Moorhens tend to be solitary and feed around the water's edge. Though they appear placid, fighting is common and often prolonged, with each bird striking the other violently with the feet and even attempting to push or drag them underwater. Moorhens feed both on water and land and so have a varied diet of leaves, seeds, berries, worms, snails and fish, and also other birds' eggs.