My quest at the moment is to get some good photos of the new Kingfisher seen on Thursday, this was exciting enough to dispel any boredom associated with sitting in a dirty hide for two hours while I wait for the opportunity. So at first light this morning, at a few minutes past Seven, I took my place for the mornings stake out. What a session it turned out to be. As soon as it was light enough to see, two juvenile Moorhens crept past me and then a Grey Heron. I was of course, only 3 feet from these birds and they obviously had no idea of my presence, a pretty special feeling to be honest. The Heron perched to my left, down stream. As I watched it hunting, still too dim for any kind of photo though, a bird flew towards me just above the surface of the trickle, which is all the brook is at the moment. It landed in front of me, literally at my feet, bobbed its tail and I recognised it instantly, a Green Sandpiper. Very exciting and the second I have seen in this area of the brook, but the first of this season. My lens was pointing down stream so I couldn't get a photo, and then it nonchalantly walked up stream an out of sight. I'm looking forward to another opportunity soon. At one point, I could see Grey Heron, Grey Wagtail and Little Egret very close and all in the viewfinder of the camera at once. These are all birds that I enjoy photographing and being near to for that matter. I can thoroughly reccommend a makeshift hide left in situ, I never have any problem. It has never been vandalised nor caused any problems, and cost next to nothing. Local people know it is there, they ignore it and keep away in fact. Some of the best wildlife moments of my life have been from this bit of plastic tarpaulin, old cam netting and string! Oh, and the Little Egret got closer and closer and even with a 200m lens, I managed these photos from around 6 feet from me.
Then later on in the day, I returned but this time I took my 500mm lens in the hope that I may be able to get some shots of the Egret with prey, and it worked even though it was too dim for anything realy specila, but you decide!
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