Moorhen Madness

Once bittern twice shy and that was the scenario today as yesterday someone had climbed out of the Zeiss Hide and wandered into the reeds and spooked the bittern into flying off. Luckily it did return today but you really couldn't see much of it at the distance it was!

I've always thought of moorhens as being quite sweet little birds, fairly common, could be fairly timid but friendly all the same - so - was not expecting this!

Rounded the corner and all hell had broken loose on the lake with four birds, each pair in a massive battle! Water and feather were flying everywhere much to the consternation of one poor little girl watching! You see birds have scraps but this was a full blown fight and the viciousness of it all was staggering; all using their wings, legs and talons against the other. Fast and furious - to the extent that I thought one was going to bite the dust being pushed underwater and goodness me those talons went deep as they raked into the stomach of the opponent! Finally, and it's tail WAS between it's legs, the loser was pushed out onto the bank and to make absolutely sure, down the path.

From my point of view a bit of a disaster, missing capturing most of the action as the camera was out but with the wrong lens, wrong settings - wouldn't you know it`?! :)) Plus I was also riveted to the spectacle along with a few other people who had gathered wondering what the commotion was.