Early afternoon and I needed some fresh air so decided to go for a walk around Doffcocker lodge, a local lake and nature reserve. The weather was bitterly cold and knowing that the lake would be frozen I wasn’t expecting great things. Oh yea of little faith. Many times I have told myself to go out whatever as many times nature has thrown some unexpected surprises in my direction. Today was going to prove to be no exception.

Upon arrival the freeze was more extensive than I imagined. The only water that wasn’t frozen was a few little pools at the edge of the lake that where no more than ten feet across. For a while I watched the coots and Moorhens fight for supremacy over pool territory seeing birds being chased slipping and sliding across the ice and over to the next pool. After a while the bird would slowly and quietly creep back keeping to the edges of the bank in the hope that they wouldn’t be seen. All these birds have keen eyesight and under no conditions where they going to be allowed back. Many times I saw the defending bird come charging across and at one point they even chased one another up a tree where they stayed growling at one another.

Whilst watching this I overlooked the grebe at first. Last week the great crested grebes had been nest building and mating and now they were forced to share this tiny little bit of water with many of the lakes residents. Laying down on my mat I wanted to photograph them but it was frustrating as they would never come from behind overhanging branches into the small area of clear water in front of me. About to give up and move on I got to my knees and then I froze. A bird had surfaced from under the ice and there right in front of me not six feet away was a rather small pale looking non breeding Grebe.

Head almost resting on the water he was in a very aggressive position and being wary birds I thought that any second he would dive and be gone. Intriguingly though he didn’t. Keeping up this posture he drifted nearer to the bank and lay close in to the edge. Then I realised what was happening. He was hiding from the other adult grebes and from their behaviour they clearly knew that he was about. Keeping very still he hugged the side of the thick branches that were growing into the water. He didn’t seem to mind my presence at all but he definitely wasn’t going to brave the wrath of the grebes beak. Watching him when the adults came close I kept willing him to keep still. Alert as ever the adults always found him eventually and surging forward on the attack the youngster was forced to dive for safety. This game of hide and seek went on for well over an hour when I could no longer see the youngster. Eventually when I left I found him. He had managed to swim down to the bottom pool where the adults didn’t venture and for the time being at least he seemed safe.