Killingworth Lake

 A drive to Killingworth to hopefully see the Great Crested Grebes doing a courtship “weed” dance. There were quite a few pairs on the lake but unfortunately, we didn’t see the “weed” dance however, we did see them displaying and nest building. Other birds of note were Goldeneye and Pochard.

Great Crested Grebe.

As I said there were a few different pairs, these two were displaying.

I thought I was going to be in luck and see the “weed” dance but the weeds were dropped before the display.

And these are a different pair.

Nest building.

Goldeneye.

Pochard.

Coots having a battle. Two on to one hardly seems fair.

Goosander.

Mute Swans taking off.

Killingworth

First time I have been to Killingworth Lake (it will not be the last) and I was lucky enough to get some shots of the Smew catching a fish. A nice male Goosander was on the same small lake until it flew off presumably to land on the larger lake. On the way back to the car I walked along side this larger lake getting shots of Goldeneye on the way.

Diving Smew

It caught a canny sized fish.

Surely the Smew (on the left) could not have spooked the Goosander.

Goosander

Swan taking off

Male Goldeneye

Female Goldeneye.