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A foretaste of spring for the woodland birds A foretaste of spring for the woodland birds
(7 months later)
The morning rain has left the already-soaked footpaths even wetter – my boots sink deep into the mud. But the clouds have cleared and the sun is shining for the last hours of the day. The weak whistles of flocks of long-tailed tits carry through the thin silver birches, as the little birds flick from one tree to the next.The morning rain has left the already-soaked footpaths even wetter – my boots sink deep into the mud. But the clouds have cleared and the sun is shining for the last hours of the day. The weak whistles of flocks of long-tailed tits carry through the thin silver birches, as the little birds flick from one tree to the next.
I make my way through the woodland to the willows and alder that edge the main pond. Jet-black coots, with their white beaks and foreheads glistening in the sunshine, dive for weed or emit their harsh, percussive calls. One of them noisily chases a grey-backed pochard and then a black and white tufted duck which have both strayed into its path.I make my way through the woodland to the willows and alder that edge the main pond. Jet-black coots, with their white beaks and foreheads glistening in the sunshine, dive for weed or emit their harsh, percussive calls. One of them noisily chases a grey-backed pochard and then a black and white tufted duck which have both strayed into its path.
Away from this commotion, out in the middle of the water, an elegant great crested grebe is paddling slowly. Another surfaces near to it, and they meet, facing each other. They lift their sharp, spear-tipped beaks up together, and in turn shake their heads at the sky. Then they slowly move their heads from side to side, in opposite directions to each other, like two swinging divining rods, before twisting their necks and stroking their back feathers – in a move called bob-preening.Away from this commotion, out in the middle of the water, an elegant great crested grebe is paddling slowly. Another surfaces near to it, and they meet, facing each other. They lift their sharp, spear-tipped beaks up together, and in turn shake their heads at the sky. Then they slowly move their heads from side to side, in opposite directions to each other, like two swinging divining rods, before twisting their necks and stroking their back feathers – in a move called bob-preening.
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They lift their beaks and repeat the sequence. One grebe stops to preen. The other bird swims away and dives for fish. The mirroring courtship dance has been brief, but it’s enough to confirm the pair’s bond – and that spring is not far away.They lift their beaks and repeat the sequence. One grebe stops to preen. The other bird swims away and dives for fish. The mirroring courtship dance has been brief, but it’s enough to confirm the pair’s bond – and that spring is not far away.
A kingfisher announces its arrival with a thin whistle. The small missile flies towards me and lands in a branch overhanging the pond. The light catches its orange breast and its mottled dark blue head. It bobs up and down, flicking its tail, and then it’s gone.A kingfisher announces its arrival with a thin whistle. The small missile flies towards me and lands in a branch overhanging the pond. The light catches its orange breast and its mottled dark blue head. It bobs up and down, flicking its tail, and then it’s gone.
Long streaks of light shine through the trees as the sun drops below their tops. The ducks and coots head to the corners of the pond, and disappear into the vegetation, to spend the night in the damp woodland.Long streaks of light shine through the trees as the sun drops below their tops. The ducks and coots head to the corners of the pond, and disappear into the vegetation, to spend the night in the damp woodland.
The great crested grebes, too, swim side by side to the other side of the water, before disappearing into the glowing reeds.The great crested grebes, too, swim side by side to the other side of the water, before disappearing into the glowing reeds.