Wildlife photographer captured a surprisingly brutal fight between waterbirds in Wales.

The clip filmed on May 13 shows a pair of coots having a fight over empty nests, each whacking their rival with water and their wings.

Ewan Wilson, wildlife enthusiast told Newsflare: "The birds leant back, using their powerful legs and sharp claws to whack their rival, employing biting and pecking in the fight as well. The intensity of these fights surprised me as these birds are normally very tranquil.

"They seemed to be fighting over abandoned nests by attempting to climb on top of the empty nests and stamp on them. Originally, I thought they where merely sparing but as I watched for longer the fight became more sinister. The tiny birds were attempting to drown each other for domination of the nests."

Wildlife photographer Ewan Wilson captures the moment in which some normally cute water birds (coots) fight in a surprisingly brutal manner. The birds leant back, using their powerful legs and sharp claws to whack their rival, employing biting and pecking in the fight as well. The intensity of these fights surprised the photographer as these birds are normally very tranquil.

They seemed to be fighting over abandoned nests by attempting to climb on top of the empty nests and stamp on them. Originally, he thought they where merely sparing but as he watched for longer the fight became more sinister. The tiny birds were attempting to drown each other for domination of the nests.