I had said yesterday when I blogged about the "brown-head" Red-breasted Merganser, that I had seen males fishing in that area, right by the lock gates, and it would be just a matter of time before I got the same opportunities with one. Well, I didn't need to wait long because when I arrived today one was fishing right there! There was a photographer opposite with his lens "locked" on to it. That was good for him but I needed to wait until he had finished and the bird had paddled away before I quickly scurried in to position. I hope that the other photographer didn't think I had disturbed it, it certainly wouldn't have been my intention, anyway it quickly returned to the water right in front of me and I got the shots that I had been hoping for.
This is a frustrating place to take photographs though. Every time one of the Mergansers comes in to the 'bay" to fish it obviously attracts the attention of the next group of walkers, bikers and/or casual bird-watchers. The ducks then obviously paddle away from the perceived danger area leaving the onlookers to chat away just above me, not realising that I am tucked away just below. It is then just a waiting game for both me and the Mergansers, who have by now disappeared too far for the "birders" to see properly. They quickly get bored and move on and as soon as they do, back comes the duck! Interestingly hardly anyone seems to realise that if they just stopped talking, banging around and stepped back 2 or more feet, the bird would continue fishing and they could have really splendid views. Not trying to be controversial but I do find it incredible that people generally are so, so noisy. Lots of people seem to think that "real wildlife watching" is like being at the zoo and it doesn't matter how much disturbance you cause. Each to his own of course but the over-all experience for everyone would be so more rewarding with just a little more thought. I even met a birder today who was wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket, now that's plain stupid in my opinion.
The Kingfisher branch that I placed by the water's edge had definitely been used again with more guano splattered around and just as before, lots of Otter tracks in the mud.
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