CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This beautiful pair have come every year. I haven't seen the cygnets yet, but I guess they're working on that. They swam below the polluted pool. Climbed the bank. Ate. Returned to the water. And swam some more. The sun glare was a menace today. It's something I'll have to remember to take into consideration in future.

More birds, just a short walk from home. I'm in the middle of trying to find out what this one's called. I think it's some kind of grebe or native waterhen, but I'm not sure. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. UPDATE: These are Eurasian Coots or Fulica antra . They don't mind swimming in polluted water, have red eyes and a distinctive white marking in the middle of their foreheads. See? Red eyes!  They eat some kind of green stuff from under the water - probably plant-life... But they have to dive for it. I caught *this* shot as the coot launched itself into the water it had been sitting on. But this is all I usually managed to get when I tried to catch them diving. I guess there's always next weekend :-)