Bittern Bonanza at Barnes...
Bitterns have always been on my list of birds that I would like to photograph They are so elusive and extremely weird looking birds that would make a interesting subject in amongst a reedbed, where they tend to stay hidden. Encouraged by the recent sightings of 4 Bittern on the London Wetland Centre sightings page, I headed over there late morning to see if I could get any shots of them with the new lens.
On first inspection, the reserve seemed pretty quiet in the way of birds. In the surrounding hedgerow, a Great tit perched in front of the camera...
... and a Cormorant was fishing in the main lake...
On the way back to Dulverton Hide, I caught news that a Bittern had been spotted over by Headley Hide. I quickly rushed into Dulverton to check if the Bittern was viewable from there, but it was too far away to see properly.
I raced over to Headley Hide and sure enough, a Bittern was showing excellently (for a Bittern). Just as I entered, the Bittern began to emerge from its hiding place, allowing me and many other photographers in the hide, an opportunity for a shot or two...
Before quickly moving back into the cover of the nearest group of dead reeds...
On the whole it was a very successful day and I got what I came for; some shots (even if they are distant!) of a very beautiful, albeit strange species, the Bittern. A great way to end the Christmas holiday and start 2010!
2 comments:
Wow, it showed pretty well for you! Should go up there soon.
Hi Bill and my, you have been working hard on your blog. I have visited each one from before Christmas onwards to this posting, and especially these last two with wonderful images from your new lens. I can imagine just how pleased you are with it and the results achieved. Well done. Although a busy year to come with exams etc, let us hope that you get some good 'photo-shoots' in the coming months. Most enjoyable in everyway both the pictures and the associated texts. Best of luck. GRAMPS.
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