The Great-crested Grebes that winter in Portland Harbour are usually gone by now, for some reason this year they are hanging on a bit later than usual. But they are not wasting their time. On the contrary, they are making sure they get some handy display practice in before they fly off to their breeding lake.
This is the first time I've seen this amount of display taking place on the sea.
A few years ago I filmed this pair at Radipole. They will often go on like this for hours.
This next video shows more of the same, but finishes with a rare sequence of the full upright weed-carrying display. It must be very difficult for the birds to do this one si it's usually over very quick and not often filmed.
There are several other stages I've not yet filmed, including the amazing "cat display" where the male bird's wings are thrown forwards into a dramatic shape.
I've only ever seen this once but hopefully I'll get some film of it one day.