counting coots

Hot on the heels of the last common juvenile bird, here comes another common juvenile bird, that is essentially rare on this patch.

The background is thus. Last year there was a small success with breeding of Great Crested Grebes, in that they raised one chick. This bird hung around with the resident pair for most of the winter until it was chased out of the patch. This year the breeding has been an unmitigated failure. In spring there was all that head wobbling and bobbing and the occasional bit of weed grabbing. All this courtship led to a nest on one of the few platforms that were available.

Which a pair of Swans commandeered.

The Grebes had a stab at a second nest after the Swan nest failed (you still with me?). This was however, pretty half hearted, and for the last month or so, all they have really done is feed up on high tide and then sleep it up on the Thames for the rest of the day.

So it was quite pleasing to find a juvenile at lunchtime. When I saw it in the distance initially I was hoping for something more exotic. But should have known better, as should you.