My first Dipper!!! (and Sandpiper)

[tich007mt]

Went round my local pool this afternoon - nothing seemed to be around - headed up to a small waterfall and stream that feeds the pool - had seen a nice pair of Grey Wagtails there last week and someone told me they had seen a Dipper not too long ago. As I approached the waterfall a flash of black and white went past to a point just ahead - was it the Dipper??
Carefully followed its path - and there it was!! A 10 second window of opportunity opened for quick photos before it disappeared again:



I'm always amazed when such opportunities arise - the same thing happened last week at the same pool when I saw a little bird on the dam shoreline separating the two main parts of the pool - my first Common Sandpiper.



Life's great sometimes isn't it!!!

[leifus]

Definately is - i saw a red-backed shrike the other day. What i like about wildlife is that you go places to see certain things and every now and then a rarety pops up which spices it up a bit which is great!!! Good pics by the way. I have seen a common sandpiper this year but not a dipper.

[Ollie]

Well done Tich a couple of nice photos. Never seen a Dipper myself.
Roger

[Pete Collins]

Well done, Tich! I'd love to see a Dipper like that (let alone photo one) - the few times I've seen one, it's been a small blur flying past.

[dmclean2]

Hi Tich,
nice photos, I love the Dipper they are great to watch when they hunt insects under water, they use their wings to kind of fly under water and come up out of the water with a spattering of water droplets rolling off their back, I was inspired as a lad to do a pen and ink drawing of one,
Duncan.

[colincurry]

Nice pictures Tich

Never seen a dipper - wrong part of the country.

Colin

[ianrose82]

Nice pictures Tich..especially the Dipper.

Like Colin I am on the wrong side of the country but spent many hours with our friends in Wales searching for one. I got one eventually but it was a lot farther away than yours!!

[tich007mt]

Thanks everyone - I feel even more privileged now to have seen and photographed the Dipper after your comments. I'll certainly be visiting the spot regularly hoping to see it again!!

[big bill]

Nice set of pics Tich well done your photography is really coming on now keep it up well done we have quite a lot of Dippers on the river but the weatgher is attrociouys at the moment even the ducks stay indoors

[ron1863]

Nice shots Tich. We have loads of Dippers but I've never managed to get a decent photograph of one.