Magic moments.

[sometimes]

Prompted by some comments on another thread, I wondered want people's magic wildlife moments were. I don't particularly mean those special trips to see something, but those moments when something special happens, typically when you're on you own - if you like a unshared selfish moment.

I remember one year I went to Skipworth Common (Yorkshire) to see and hear the Nightjars. I found myself a large rock to sit on (it may have been a tree stump) and proceeded to wait for dark. Sure enough there was the churring, then the flashing wings and 'claps'. I'd been watching/listening for about 1/2 hour, it was pretty dark and i was about to make my way back to the car when I saw a huge multipoint stag come out of the tree line in the distance. I decided to see where it would go, so sat very still. It came directly towards me, closer and closer. Of course the nearer it got the less I dared to move. All I could really see was the black shape and horns against the little light in the sky. It must have passed about 6 feet to my left and it stopped. The tension was excrutiating I wanted to turn my head towards it but knew it would suss me. I could hear it breathing.

I must have twitched or something because it suddenly jumped (now I know why deer fences are so high) and bounded away in the distance, leaving me shattered wreck and a memory that I'll never forget.

[diggleken]

brilliant description - I lived the moment with you, thanks a lot.
Where to start - there are so many over the years,but four stand out - otters feedding in west scotland at close hand, bitterns at Leighton Moss feeeding 6ft away, Cairngorm closenesses to Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting at 4000 ft, and swaying over sheer rock ledges in Cwm Idwal to take pictures of Snowdon Lily - I wouldnt do it now!
Its all a great journey though.
Ken

[Tracey.A]

My magic moment happened on Ben Lawers, I was thrilled to see a female Ring ouzel. I had wanted to see one for years, but never had until that moment. I remember thinking that things couldn't get any better than that, but just as I was coming down from the summit I had a pair of ptarmigan walking about 12 feet in front of me for about five minutes Special moment indeed! I was elated! There have been many other moments, but those two will stay with me for a long time

Tracey

[sometimes]

Thanks Ken.

Tracey - Your 'moment' reminds us 'the day is never done' - as for Ptarmigan, a 'tick' I'm still waiting for myself.

[Jeapesy]

I have two magic moments that spring to mind and seeing as i'm new to wildlife watching they've both occured in the last month. The first was only a few weeks ago while i was out walking on Two Tree island when i saw an Osprey fishing in a creek right in front of me was a superb moment and one i won't forget, a truely majestic bird of prey.

The second was while i was out walking at Blue House farm in Fambridge when a weasel popped out of some tall grass a little distance in front of me, i froze immediately and watched as he edged closer and closer. As he got to within a few metres of me i decided i had to try and get a picture and i slowly reached for my camera. Unfortunately he spotted me and bolted upright starring straight at me before making a quick exit.

[Mr Speckler]

Hi,
I'll try and tell you about my best magic moment. It was intense and I didn't see a thing. It was a couple of months ago.

I had spent the day working in woodland with my wife and it was such a nice summer day that I decided to stay the night (I often do this) just to be there at dawn. I had left a sleeping bag stashed in the wood and had a tiny meths burner, that was enough kit.

I made my bed on the floor as it got dark and listened to the tawny owls Ke-wickin around me and foxes howling and felt very comfortable. I awoke at one-thirty. the night was absolutely silent. Very slowly I became aware of a sound. I thought it was approaching rain. It was a constant patter on the leaf litter, getting louder. The sky was clear and starry.

Then I realised I was listening to a lot of animals moving through the wood together. I was in boar country, the wood is full of signs, tracks, droppings and the damage that they do as they root around. I knew what was coming.

I had made my camp in a valley and just yards in front of where I was lying was what I thought was a disused animal track. I was in complete darkness on the floor of the wood and I didn't have a torch. I felt nervous but there wasn't anything I could do so I coughed and shuffled around a bit just to let them know I was there. I had always held the belief that boar were animals with the disposition of deer, not aggressive and preferring to avoid men. Also I have often been aware of large solitary animals when I have slept out but no problems with them.

These animals weren't afraid of me. they came down the track and did a circle around me, until some were right behind me, others were still coming down into the valley. Up until then it had seemed pretty fantastic, I could hear them grunting and snuffling and in the dark they seemed so close. Then I lost my nerve.

I heard a couple of loud bark like grunts behind me (no snorting) and decided I had to stand up. Couldn't lie there on the floor. As soon as I stood up there was a barrage of noise from all around me. Every thing else I tell you is just down to my own inexperience and fear, the animals were very cool.

Once you admit fear there is not much left, you are lost. I shouted "Hey Hey" hoping to drive them away from me. It didn't faze them a bit, they just kept on coming down the track like a train, unstoppable and just carried on going about their business.

There was an old coppice stool close by, like a circle of trees but just one tree really and I climbed into the centre of it. I had my camera and I started firing off the flash, all the pictures show was my circle of trees. None of my ridiculous behaviour seemed to bother them and eventually the sound of the rainstorm passed and faded into the distance.

I checked the time, I couldn't see a damned thing and I wanted to know, how long till dawn. It was three- forty five. Even given the time it took them to approach and the time it took me to recover my composure, pretty sure it took them at least twenty minutes to half an hour to pass my camp.

What was left of the night, I spent jumping, every time a rabbit rustled a leaf and I was so grateful for the dawn.

For me, that was fantastic. My perception of the boar changed. I had only met them singularly and hadn't expected such a big group and I had expected them to be afraid of me and these clearly were not.

The very next weekend I retuned and built a sleeping platform in that coppice stool. I have spent several nights there since, no luck so far. I am quite excited that they didn't stampede at my camera flash or my shouting or anything and they didn't do anything to hurt me and they easily could have.

I sleep up a tree these days and live in hope. Magic!

Hope you liked my tale, it's a true story and if I get the pics I'll post them.
Colin

[Tracey.A]

Colin, what a night you had! I loved your account of what happened and how you felt etc., Truth be told I would have been scared as well for obvious reasons! Brilliant account of your night. Thank you so much for sharing this fascinating tale, I loved it and felt as if I was almost there with you!

Tracey

[Tracey.A]

Originally Posted by sometimes

Thanks Ken.

Tracey - Your 'moment' reminds us 'the day is never done' - as for Ptarmigan, a 'tick' I'm still waiting for myself.

Get yourself up to the Cairngorms Thank you for your comment and yes you are so right 'the day is never done'!

Tracey

[volence]

My moment happened when I was in my local wood. I'd seen deer in there and a fox so I wanted to film them. I got a brand new mini dvd camcorder and settled down next to a tree to watch the top of the steep slope opposite. I was sitting and shelling and eating peas (I know it's bizarre but was very satisfying) and out of the corner of my eye I thought i saw a cat. I turned around to call it over and saw a beautiful fox just looking at me. I turned on my camcorder to film it and it slowly started walking up the slope, not even bothered by my rustling or the camcorder beeping. I picked up the camcorder only to have the message " SONY DISC RECOMMENDED" come up on the screen. Just as the screen went normal and I could start shooting, the fox was gone. Grrrr. But at least I saw the fox and it wasn't scared of me.

I think it knew I wasn't a threat cos the first time I went to that wood, i saw him running towards me. He swerved to another path and I saw an alsation running after him. I shouted at the dog and ran infront to distract it and give the fox time to get away. The stupid owner didn't even try calling her dog off

[Morph]

Originally Posted by volence

My moment happened when I was in my local wood. I'd seen deer in there and a fox so I wanted to film them. I got a brand new mini dvd camcorder and settled down next to a tree to watch the top of the steep slope opposite. I was sitting and shelling and eating peas (I know it's bizarre but was very satisfying) and out of the corner of my eye I thought i saw a cat. I turned around to call it over and saw a beautiful fox just looking at me. I turned on my camcorder to film it and it slowly started walking up the slope, not even bothered by my rustling or the camcorder beeping. I picked up the camcorder only to have the message " SONY DISC RECOMMENDED" come up on the screen. Just as the screen went normal and I could start shooting, the fox was gone. Grrrr. But at least I saw the fox and it wasn't scared of me.

I think it knew I wasn't a threat cos the first time I went to that wood, i saw him running towards me. He swerved to another path and I saw an alsation running after him. I shouted at the dog and ran infront to distract it and give the fox time to get away. The stupid owner didn't even try calling her dog off

Moments like this are pricless, when wildlife just happens along almost bumping into you.
You can't put in words written or oral that feeling inside you get, I've tried many times and fail every time. Thanks for sharing your moment.