The One That Got Away

I called in on Fishers Green in the Lee Valley Park this evening to check on my Great Crested Grebes.

I spent some time trying to tog sedge warblers in the reeds but they wouldn't show themselves. I did get a lovely shot of a lone magpie up to no good (one for sorrow) in the reeds though. The evening sun highlighted the fact that these birds are not black and white but iridescently multi-coloured.

As I approached my grebe's nest one of them popped to the surface from a dive and I could see the other sitting. The sexes are very similar so I couldn't tell which was which. I lost the diver for a while and headed home but then it appeared again. I followed it back towards the nest as it dived and disappeared for about twenty-five seconds repeatedly. On one occasion it came up right under a duck that had got near the nest. I think it did that on purpose as a threat.

I had a hunch that my final pic was quite good. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. A fish is exiting the frame left!

When I was in primary school I used to read and re-read The Observer's Book Of British Birds and compiled a quiz for my school mates. One of the questions was, "What colour are a Great Crested Grebe's eyes?" I had never seen a grebe. How fortunate I am to have returned to childhood passions. :)