A Spot of Fowl Play

While visiting a nature reserve we witnessed two coots having a right go at each other. It’s that time of year when they start nesting and getting territorial.

One minute they were swimming peacefully, the next they were flapping about in the water.

There was plenty of splashing, chasing and kicking, with both trying to get the upper hand, or should that be webbed foot?? To be honest, it looked more like handbags at dawn than a proper fight. Lots of noise and flapping but not much damage done.

Another coot was present as well but mostly stayed out of it. Probably the wisest one of the lot.

After a few minutes the whole thing calmed down. The two pugilists drifted apart, had a quick shake of the feathers and carried on about their business as if nothing had happened. No harm done, just a bit of showing off before peace was restored on the lake once again. It’s not as though the lake isn’t big enough to accommodate them both!

Mind you, give it another hour or two and they’d probably be at it again. Seems even the birdlife likes a bit of drama now and then, especially when spring is in the air.