Psilos
Bird Journal |
Tuesday March
4th 2008 |
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"A
sunny passion" |
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Today is one of those rare
sunny, early spring mornings and I am back on Curlew Lane near Martinmere.
Previously I have found large flocks of Whooper swans feeding in the
fields near the road and today I am in luck once again. This time they
are feeding in the nearest field very close to the road. It is at this
point that I realise my camera is still in its bag in the boot of my
car and if I get out to retrieve it my shoot will be over before it
has begun. |
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Ok then no problem is too great
it cant be solved. Thinking quickly I do the most spectacular three
point turn and retreat back up the road. Around the next bend I stop,
retrieve and set up my camera, then turn round and head back up the
lane once more. Pulling off the road and keeping out of the way of traffic
is easy here and I just hope that pointing my camera in the swans direction
doesnt make them too edgy. |
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I listen to their
calls listening for any signs of anxiety, uneasy that I am close by
but there is non. Their calls are soft and muted. A single whoop call
to carry their bond echoes around the field and they continue to feed.
I have to say that whilst the scene is beautiful it is not that good
photographically. I am shooting too high and too close and the sun is
shining directly towards me. It is lovely to be sitting in the sheltered
warmth of the sun but there is little activity going on and I am doing
the scene no justice at all. |
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A pair of Whoopers fly in and that is it. No more flight activity. All is quiet. Ideally I would love to wait to photograph them all taking off back to the mere but how long would I have to wait with no guarantee at all of results. Half an hour is long enough. I take my leave and head for the mere. |
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After feeling the
warmth of the sun I am startled by the strength and cold of the wind
that is once again whistling through the main hide overlooking the mere.
I am also amazed at the high number of Whooper swans that are feeding
out on the mere. There are also quite high numbers of Teal, Wigeon,
Pintail, Pochard, Cormorant and Ruff nearby. The Teal and Pintails were
busy feeding in the puddles that have collected up on the bank. In the
light their reflections can clearly be seen. |
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There are also more
Tufted ducks around than normal. A real nightmare to photograph in this
bright light. |
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Suddenly there is activity
and all the ducks fly up at the back of the mere. Dozens of Pintail,
Teal and Wigeon all mixing together. I watch them undecided exactly
where to point my lens. Birds are flying everywhere coming ever closer
to the hide. I will have to react quickly or the moment will be gone.
In the end such is my indecision that I miss just about everything but
a few Pintail. |
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Feeling pretty disgusting with
myself for having lost the opportunity of some good shots I leave the
mere in search of easier targets. |
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