Coots
Coot. The name fits, I think. It's such an odd-looking bird, so the odd name suits. My friend Alice posted pictures and a video of the American coot on her website, so here's the European cousin: The black coot. In this photo, you see two in the water and one ashore with a mallard couple, taken at a stream near where I live. The Norwegian name is sothøne ("soot hen").
I really wish I had a camera with a good zoom lens for bird photography. Had I gotten closer, you could have better seen the striking white ridge on their beak, and the oversized, webby feet. They are very clownish on land because their bodies seem disproportioned, but are very graceful and quick in the water. Their call is a very sweet (IMO), single "flute" note, and if you listen carefully, you'll hear the American coot's call once on Alice's video (about 1/3 in).
In case you were wondering, the brown version of the bird, called sivhøne ("reed hen") in Norwegian, is called a moorhen in English. I saw one once at Ortuvann pond, but in recent years, it's the black coot that has become a permanent resident of the pond.
Comments
I share your lens frustration. I'm working on saving up for a new camera, and a lens or two to go with it. I've missed many picture opportunities for lack of a really good zoom.
My next camera will be a digital SLR, and likely a Nikon or Canon. It's got to be a camera I'd actually take with me on casual walks.
I do like the digital darkroom much better than the old fashioned kind -- I never did like the smell of all those chemicals.
I don't remember the chemical smells. What I do remember is worth a blog of its own that'll be next. In the meantime, I need to take a walk, even if it's raining. Maybe especially then. :-)