Nearly but not quite

Someone very wise once said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. It’s true, and that’s what we do as wildlife photographers. We visit the same spot again and again, hoping for that one moment when it all comes together. The light, the subject – we wait for that one moment. Well that’s what I’ve been doing for several weeks now. Waiting on the Fen, for a special subject. This morning was a beautiful frosty start to the day, the first thing I see slinking through the crystallised grass is a Fox, sleek and handsome he stares at me when I squeak, and then bounces away as I try to turn the camera towards him. The frozen ground crunches underfoot, and the first golden light pours over the glistening white frost. The hedge is full of chattering Fieldfares, a pair of Swans glide overhead and two of the resident Roe deer watch shyly as I walk by.

Great reedmace, Typha latifoli, Bulrush, frost, Winter, Suffolk, December

 

Bracken, Pteridium aquilinum, covered in frost, Winter, December, Suffolk

 

I reach the spot and wait, an hour or maybe two goes by with nothing but the most fleeting of glimpses. I move on, and then there,  a movement. Two more, quite close, a flutter, a whistle, they flit on the top of the reeds, the birds I’ve been trying to photograph for weeks.

 

Beardedtit061214DM1895

Bearded tits. Not very well named really, they’re not a member of the tit family, and the male wears a rather dapper moustache rather than a beard. Anyway, they are special little birds, a regular, though elusive Winter visitor to the Fen. So here’s my nearly but not quite photo, they decided to perch momentarily on the same reed, meaning I couldn’t get both in focus, then they moved down into the reeds to feed, not allowing any other chances to get a clear view. Nearly, but not quite. I’ll keep trying!

 

(Click images to view larger…)

If you like what you see, please consider sharing![social_share/]

BOB_Avatar

 

 

 

 

 

UK & Eire Natural History Bloggers

Current favourite books, click for more info:




 

Similar Posts

  • Small Copper

    Went out this weekend to a patch of heathland try and photograph these little beauties. The overcast weather seemed to make them not very obliging and it was difficult to get very close, so I opted for some ‘in habitat’ style shots, which I quite like. Not bad for a first go with these tiny…

  • Otters

    Had a brilliant morning with the Otters, but first, a word to photographers planning to visit this location. If you are not aware of the Nature Photographers Code of Conduct, then please read it thoroughly HERE. This is the code of practice by which all nature photographers must abide, to protect the wildlife we love…

  • Teased by the Turtle Dove

    Well the last few days have been pretty frustrating. Attempting to get some more photos of the Turtle dove, but not doing very well! A mix of sunshine and showers have made for interesting and difficult lighting conditions. Here are a few that I’ve managed to process today, still got more to go through though….

  • I’m Back!

    Hello! Yes I’m back! Firstly I must apologise for my prolonged absence. The past few months have been incredibly hectic, and sadly I’ve had no time for photography. You see, on the 15th September, I married my partner of 10 years and love of my life Drew Mellowship. We had a truly wonderful day and…

  • Conservation Pony

    Had a day off today, so was determined to go out somewhere, despite the dull conditions. Decided to visit Redgrave and Lopham Fen, which is probably my nearest nature reserve. Didn’t see too much, a couple of Muntjac deer, and some Reed Buntings. The hardy Konik ponies are used to graze the fen, helping to…

  • The Dawn Chorus

    I got up this Sunday morning early enough to hear the start of the dawn chorus. The Song Thrush began, backed by the local Blackbirds, then Robins and Wrens. A Blue tit joins in with a simple trill, and a Woodpigeon adds his two penny worth too. Their voices merge into a wall of beautiful…

2 Comments

  1. Cracking photos Dawn, to get a pic of one bearded tit is pretty good, but two together, a double whammy! You must have been frozen it was certainly a hard frost on Saturday morning.

Leave a Reply