CLOSER. (24/02/13)

First light this morning was much like yesterday. No light at all.

We came back, ate breakfast and the sun was shining down on us. Off we toddled again.

  I decided that if I set up on this little spit of salt marsh then we could be quiet and still and hope the birds would come within range……Optimism is a wonderful attribute no matter how misplaced.

The dogs settled, now all I needed were the waders. There were plenty around, Oystercatchers, Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin and a few of a size between the two. Sandpiper of some sort I presume. What a waste of an hour and a half…..photographically.

I had only just opened my flask and was admiring a couple of curlew when a Chocolate Labrador charged out of nowhere and put everything into the air and away. It’s owner, an ignorant bitch of a woman with an arse the size of Luxembourg, and a face like a squashed cabbage waddled up laughing and said that’s disrupted your day. With commendable restraint I said nothing. It is fortunate it is Sunday and I need all the help I can get with birding. I didn’t want God on her side…..I doubt he was….I’m no Adonis but she poor woman was a real fright. I’m an optimist, I could have met her in the twilight and been petrified…..I wanted to show you that ugly goes through and through but she wouldn’t pose for a picture. Probably just as well….the lenses are expensive!

We waited for half an hour but although a few birds returned they were miles away. An exaggeration, a couple of hundred yards away so near enough to enjoy but too far to photograph.

Altogether I spent a couple of hours an hour either side of high water but  we were then rudely interrupted by a Marsh Harrier. If you think a dog can cause havoc then you want to see the effect a raptor has. I was frozen by this time was out of coffee, fast running out of roll ups and so decided to call it a day.

That’s an hour and a half walking and two hours sitting. I’ll be a shadow of my former self!

       What I am calling a Redshank……It could well be something else despite having red legs.

       A Curlew. These are easier to get close to when they move up onto the moors to breed. I have a little bird by the feeders that makes a similar call. I can’t isolate it.

          There was no sign of the Wigeon this morning. This smart duck floated past but I can’t find it in my book.

It was a good morning but I really hoped to get closer.

If it’s nice tomorrow I’m going up to the World Owl Centre. They will be close enough there. They have the little blighters in cages. It’s only a mile away so I’ll take Bertha. That reminds me Bertha needs a wash. She seems to have collected a bit of mud.

Have a good week.