Hello All,
Wow, what an interesting weekend I had and although it didn't go to plan (as usual) it was very enjoyable! So in pictures and words here's a quick run down.....
My weekend was planned around trying to get some decent pictures of a Kingfisher which has eluded me so far. You might remember but I posted a little while ago that I had been given a tip off of a great "Kingfisher spot" by a friend of mine and after several weeks of trying and many long hours I drew a big fat 'HIGGY ZERO!'
From this disaster I followed up by failing on my quest with badgers and of course that darn buzzard who I see all the time but just won't 'pose' for the camera!
Having located the above mentioned badgers set situated in a small wood around large pond, I spent many hours down there with absolutely no luck! I was however overwhelmed by the richness of the bird life witin this wood so told my 'Kingfisher' friend about this little unknown gem. He went for a visit last week which prompted an exciting phone call where he relaid to me his fantastic morning trip to this wood where he spent a ages watching a Kingfisher!!!....He even described the exact spot where I could set the camera up and get a "perfect picture" as there was a small island of stones in the middle of the pond with an old branch sticking out which it was using as it's perch to hunt from!.....
Excited???....You bet and in true Higgy fashion I packed the car and come Saturday drove straight down there. Parking the truck up I couldn't get everything unpacked quick enough! Over the gate I went and hiked across the field, only to get half way across and find this lot and some of their mates running at me!...
Last time I was there the field was empty and as it is very large I was stranded with no where to go!......Following some quick thinking a bit of shouting and a lot of waving my tripod around like a Samurai sword they stopped and decided to just stalk me the rest of the way in stead!....Whilst this was happening my friend 'Harry' the buzzard flew over and I'm sure he was laughing at me again!
Finally, down at the lake I settled myself in and waited for the turquoise & orange beauty to turn up and pose nicely for all my lovely expensive and high tech camera gear....and waited....and waited...2 hours...waited... You guessed it....NOWT!!
Three hours into my mission I did have a stroke of luck as whilst waiting a Tree Creeper landed on the Oak tree I was hiding behind and was literally only two feet away from me (what a pretty bird!) Unfortunately 'higgy's luck' struck again and as I was using my 300mm lens I was to close and couldn't focus on it!!!.....had I been quicker to react I could have taken my mobile phone out and probably got my best ever bird shot!!! LOL
Over four hours later all I had in the bag was my 'end of the day picture'...It really was getting really late at this point and dark!....
Sunday I knew would be better and the excitement got the better of me and bizarrely I was awake just after 5am! Well not one to waste an opportunity I was out of bed and heading for the wood by 5:20am! When I arrived it was still dark and I opted to follow the hedge line along in the next field to avoid waking & spooking my new best 'bullock' friends and frightening away anything else which might be out and about at this ridiculous hour!
Thinking about my past photography failures I set the camera with my 'low light' settings and proceeded across the field. I didn't get any more than 100 yards when a fox came out of the hedge and proceeded to casually 'stroll' across the field, obviously on his way home, belly full from a nights hunting.....panic stations...no time for tripod...clang...right down on your belly camera ready....snap, snap, snap...three quick shots like a professionally trained SAS sniper.....
DRAT!!!......FUZZY FOX!.............
I think my 'low light' photography needs some work!!???....
Any way forget about another failure, the sun is rising so for a change a 'start of the day' shot this time...
7am, it's going to be hot and sunny and I'm behind my favourite Oak tree camera on tripod focused on the perch, there is now way I can fail in my mission this time is there??........
10:30am....movement across the pond....here we go camera ready......"oh drat, MOOR HEN!.....
Midday and still nothing, I'm not sure who is border now, me or that darn stick I've been staring at for the last five hours!!....To top it all 'Harry' has flown over several times and I've missed it as the cameras either been on the tripod set up or as I get it ready he flies back over into the tree canopy!!!....."Damn Buzzard!!"
Now I'm at the stage of about 12hours into this farcical 'Kingfisher' hunt now and I've just about had enough of it, my backs in agony, my eyes hurt and to just about sum it all up I've got sunburnt on my leg but it's just a lovely even 2" band around my knees where my wellies and shorts didn't quite meet!!!....how sexy!! LOL
"That's it I've had enough can't take it any more"....teddies firmly out of the pram!!.....grab the camera and I'm off for a walk to stretch my back....
"Hey there's Harry"......"drat not got my tripod!"....."oh well"....Snap....Snap....Snap....
The end to a great weekend......THANKS HARRY!!!!.....
Hi Higgy
Love your reports they always make me feel as if Im actually there, shame about not getting the Kingfisher your time will come im sure, but what an end with more great Buzzard photos.
Shane
Regards Shane
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Oh well done Higgy and Harry!! Shot sir!
You need to take up yoga or some such Higgy if you are going to spend weekends like this!
Just a thought . I bet some Buzzard geek could tell you how old Harry is from the pattern of moulting of his primaries! Sadly I can't - now if he was a Barn Owl.....!
Looking forward to next weekend's saga!
Jenni
God gave us two ears and one mouth for a very good reason!
Hi "Eddie" fantastic story line as ever , keep it up, your bound to get it all together one day !!
Regards Mick
Work is for those people that don't Bird-watch!!!!
Hi Higgy.
Fantastic story, especially with the photos thrown in.
keep at it, cos sometimes that's the only way to get results.
That kingfisher photo will come, and well done on getting Harry.
Viv.
Thank you for the smile Higgy. Being you I expect that very soon you will decide to photograph something totally unrelated to a kingfisher and lo and behold it will sit on the end of your lens for you.
Caroline in Jersey
Cin J
Reading that made me laugh out loud! I know the feeling exactly!!! Especially the sunburn bit......
Fantastic photos....especially the sunrise.....
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You can pat yourself on the back with the Harry photos. Yep this birding and photography is a real hoot all my best pics are of slow moving things like hens or swans (best yet toadstools, they hardly move at all!) I say hurrah for the delete button much better than throwing your pics and money away on the way out of the developers.
Great photos and report Higgy. Hope you get your elusive kingfisher, probably when you are not looking for it LOL
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Oh Higgy You have done it again, you made me laugh out loud,
the way you tell your stories is great, i feel as if i'm there as well,
thanks for sharing your weekend , love your photo's.
better luck next time with the Kingfisher, good old Harry putting on a show.
Do you keep copies of your stories,? they would make a brilliant book
Val
You know what Higgy, I really like that fuzzy fox picture - essence of fox. The colours there, the shapes there - brilliant. Sorry, having an arty moment.