Dancing grebes!

I'm a little out of sequence in posting my blog as I haven't posted the pictures from last Saturday when I was "north of the Thames". However, they will follow in due course.

Yesterday, Spring happened!! I went off to Painshill to try to photograph the Goosanders in good light. Good light there was in abundance; Goosanders had left 10 minutes before I arrived!! They seem to be coming and going so I'm still hoping for a bright day before too long..

All the usual birds about but I concentrated mostly on landscapes which I will save for another day.

After Painshill and some necessary food shopping I headed off for Bushy Park. By now it was mid afternoon and the sun was beginning to sink. I hear and saw a Great Crested Grebe - it was calling for its mate. After searching I saw the second bird and so did the Grebe. And now it is getting towards 4.30 p.m. and the sun is low.

The Black-headed Gulls were beginning to show why they are called such!

At the top of the pond, a Grey Heron was sunbathing..

I took a chance and took this shot straight into the sun; I quite liked the sunlight lightening the Heron's beak.

The low sun made for some interesting colours and reflections..

And now the stars of the day. This Grebe was calling and sinking its head and neck low along the water..

It's mate joined it and they faced each other; heading-turning then started..

accompanied by stretching the neck upwards..

and then backwards along its body..

They then both dived and came up with some weed. By now the sun was really low although it was a wonderfully warm colour..

and the dancing began..

This was obviously only a practise run as it lasted for just a few seconds before they stopped and swam off together. Great to watch and I shall go back. Last year the coots chased the Grebes off the nest and I saw no evidence that they had had any young. Perhaps this year, although it's a very open area and not that good for Grebe nesting I would have thought.

As they swam to the far end of the pond I kept pace with them, but there was no further dancing.

And today? By complete contrast it was grey again with a bitingly cold wind. I needed to get some more printer ink from Tesco's so as it was on the way to Barnes (London Wetland Centre) I headed over there first. Very very little about in terms of bird activity.

A Green Woodpecker sat immersed in the branches of a tree

and a singular Redpoll landed high above my head.

Just have to wait for the Spring migrants now......