Flying Coots

[Palmtree]

During the Summer I have seen on rare occasions Coots flying low over the water. This weekend we took the boat out and have seen loads of Coots flying. Is this just coincidence or do Coots fly more in the winter?

 

Ian

[donnygeoff]

maybe the water is cold, and they don't like cold feet.

Or because it is cold, do they want to get home and cuddle into the nest as soon as they can.

just a thought.

[MBA Marine]

They must need a long runway and there are too many boats in the way in the summertime!

[littlesprite]

Not sure if this is a joke or serious, could they find it easier to fly during periods of low pressure?

 

Don't laugh! tide heights are affected by atmospheric pressure so why not bird flight.

[Palmtree]

I was serious , just thought there might be some reason. Coots form up into groups in the winter and this is also a change in behaviour. Atmospheric pressure is not something I had thought of.

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[Labrador]

Coots joining up on mass is not a change in behaviour. It occurs every winter, it's only when the breeding season when they fight like hell and disperse.

[marshman]

What many people fail to realise is that many coots overwinter here, flying in from the near Continent. Thats is why we see an increase in coot numbers here in the UK and if they have a cold winter in Holland/Belgium/France coots come over in large numbers.

[ZimbiIV]

As an aside on our first every boat hire, I discovered my wife steering away from the birds in the water!

She didn't want to run them down and would not believe me that could fly.

paul

[Palmtree]

Marshman,

 

Thanks for that!

 

I always thought all the Coots were local, I never expected they fly in for the winter. 

 

Ian

[ranworthbreeze]

Hi Paul,

 

When we were moored on the Northern Broads in the winter months there was so many coots on a bend in the river below Wroxham Broad that we called the place coots corner, hundreds of them all across the river.

 

Your wife would have had a job steering around them.

The birds I worry about are Great Crested Grebe, they always come up after diving under the boat, but you never know.

 

Regards

Alan