The lake at the Botanical Gardens is a magnet for small children with bags of stale bread. Because of the artificially raised nutrient levels, the bird population density is higher than the birds’ territorial behaviour can tolerate. This leads to conflict.
The platform in these pictures is a floating drainage point for level control. The moorhens used it for their nest site this year (two chicks out of seven still about.) The cormorants use it as a drying-off spot. This moorhen suspected nefarious intentions involving eggs.
We sat in the shade as the moorhen became increasingly agitated, 200mm lens in fast-capture mode. Rewarded.
Look at the beak!
This is my spot. Not yours.
Take your foot off my head
The loser departs