Psilos
Bird Journal |
Thursday January
24th 2008 |
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"A
windy day to remember" |
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Woke up to the first sunny
morning we have had in weeks and thought I would go and have a relaxing
day on the mere. It just goes to show how wrong you can be! True the
sun was shining but what I hadnt figured on was the wind. Inland there
was barely a breeze. On the mere it sounded like an express train was
thundering through. |
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The Swan link hide
was almost deserted and it wasnt hard to figure out why. The noise of
the wind echoed all around and the wind chill was freezing. Looking
through an open hatch took your breath away and more than once the wind
knocked me off my feet. I quickly had to make a judgement as to whether
the birding would be worth the challenge and struggle that photographing
in these condtions would bring. |
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The light was superb
and if birds were around then it would be worth the struggle. I was
not to be disappointed. The wind was making the birds very restless
and everywhere I looked flocks were taking to the skies. Whooper swan
numbers were low but that didnt matter for I spent a glorious three
hours photographing ducks in flight. |
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For two years I
have been trying to get some decent close shots of Pintail. Today I
had plenty of opportunities as they were flying around everywhere. If
I didnt get a decent shot today then I only had myself to blame. |
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Flocks of Pintails
were readily spooked. I watched constantly for Peregrines and Sparrowhawks
that often hunt close in but apart from a kestrel I saw nothing that
couldb e threatening to them. |
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