A Bad Day

[Brocker]

Thought I would tell you about my first trip out to reccy for Kingfishers to photograph. I drove to the River Chelmer in Essex which has some quite secluded stretches of river bank. It was cold, damp and muddy but I was quite jolly. After about an hour, after no sign whatsoever I had a chat with an aged angler. Once I deciphered what he was atually saying without his upper set of teeth in, it would appear that I chose the right area, but the wrong time of day. Just after dawn was the best time so armed with this information I headed back to the car. These two little fellas presented themselves for their portriats, so I obliged. When I got back to the car I unlocked the boot, put all my warm weather clothing in and my cameras and closed it. . . . along with my car keys . . . . Sheepishly I phoned the Father-in-Law who I have to say was a little irrate, who then drove the forty five miles to drop off the spare key while I waited for an hour and a half in a t shirt with temps around 7 degrees . . . . Not my best day

[Cazzie]

Oh dear!

Hey, but even though you had to decifer one of the locals, at least you now know when and where to get a shot of the elusive Kingfisher eh!

Perhaps a bottle of something 'warming' for your Father-in-law wouldn't go amiss?!?

Nice shots of the LTT's though!

[glsammy]

That's something I've done myself, very embarrassing. In my case it was the AA that came to the rescue!
The local info could be good, I hope you have better luck next time. Nice shots of the long tail tits.

[JeffH]

Trying to look on the positive side - you're very unlikely to make the same mistake again with the car!

and the old fisherman's advice is spot on - after a long, dark, cold night and as soon as it's light enough Kingfishers are up and about looking for food. Bear in mind they need to eat their own weight (mainly in fish) each day and at this time of year they tend to remain active until they've had their fill before roosting in a dense bush or similar.

Better luck next time

Jeff

[JeffH]

a PS to the above - I went out into the garden at 5 past 7 this morning to fill my bird feeders. It was barely light but, as if to prove the point made above, whilst I was out there I heard the call of a Kingfisher as it flew in to one of my ponds! On seeing me it made a swift diversion but will doubtless be back - after I've left for work

Jeff

[big bill]

I know how you feel with the car keys but it was the dog that did it to me I hate those new interior security locks where you can lock all doors from inside and the button is in a easy and accesable posn the dog puts her paws on it every time I have lost count of the times I been locked out now I carry the spare in my wallet she thinks its hilarious.
At least you have got two cracking pics of the Long Tailed Tit and you now know when to expect the Kingfisher well done

[STEinGUZZ]

Hi Brocker,

Sorry to hear about your crazy day, I suppose it wouldn't of been has bad if you'd locked everything in other than your camera. At least you would have had something to do other than shiver while waiting for your spare key to arrive.

Quick question if you don't mind, when you had found a decent site for the kingfishers. What were your intentions? do you have a portable hide or intended on using patience and luck. I'm new to photography and just probing around for peoples methods. I'm debating on either making a portable hide or making a sort of sniper like Ghillie suit and having a throw over cam net.

Though this might be a bit extreme does anyone else adopt a similar technique ?

Ste

[Brocker]

Thanks for the lift guys. It has not put me off at all. I have learned my my lesson though and wont be doing that again. . . I actually plan to go out again this weekend on my quest so wish me luck. I have had a couple of WAB members PM me with locations which is really helpfull. Many thanks. I will let you know how I get on

Ste,
I do not use a hide at the mo. My plan is arrive before dawn and sit up in a location. I currently wear some Real Tree camo coat and trousers which are absolutely waterproof. This allows me to sit for some time without getting wet and cold. I may well get myself a hide after xmas. Hope this helps.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by glsammy

In my case it was the AA that came to the rescue!

For me it was the RAC who had to take the back seat out in order to get into the boot!

Originally Posted by STEinGUZZ

I'm new to photography and just probing around for peoples methods. I'm debating on either making a portable hide or making a sort of sniper like Ghillie suit and having a throw over cam net.

Though this might be a bit extreme does anyone else adopt a similar technique ?

I regularly use a throw over cam net. However, if I was planning on spending a lot of time at one location I would definitely use a portable hide. Back in the summer I bought myself a cheap camo pattern dome tent for this very purpose but so far have only used it once.

Dave P.

[JeffH]

Good Luck with your quest this weekend Brocker

But I'd have to agree with Dave P about using a portable hide for longer sessions, particularly with Kingfishers as these birds are very intolerant of human presence - which is why most people's view of them is a blue flash as they fly away

Bear in mind that these birds also have very good eyesight so you'll have to be very still and your camo will have to be very good indeed to get a close range shot and without spooking the bird.

Having said all that, I do hope you prove me wrong and produce a top-notch shot

Jeff

[Brocker]

Thanks for the advice Jeff. I have put a dome hide on my xmas wish list (wife thinks I am mad ) so I will have to make do with my camo gear in the meantime. I am very new to photographing birds and still have a lot to learn and am learning all the time, thanks to WAB members. I will go along, have a great time, enjoy the peaceful open space and if I do bag a shot, that will be a bonus. . . . .

[Chris_Johnstone]

I've just finished reading Chris Gomersall's book "Photographing wild birds". He explains in a case study what he did to get his shots of a Kingfisher and definitely used a hide. It's a really good book, if a little old.

I had a dream last night that there was a buzzard, sparrowhawk and a peregrine sitting on the hedge opposite my house but whenever I took pictures of them, the LCD would reveal a building or something because I had my camera set to 'landscape' mode... what the hell's happening to me?

Chris

[Brocker]

Ooooooh, dont talk to me about weird dreams. I had one and . . . . . it is too daft to tell

[Maccattack]

Yep also left car keys inside car , didnt have a spare set so had to break a quarter light( shows my age..) , despite being in a large car park and attacking my car with a large metal object no one seemed to notice .
I have heard that kingfishers are around the Maldon end of the Chelmer (Heybridge way) , good luck , I haven't seen any yet .Isuspect a thermos flask might be a good idea for early mornings in winter.
MMac

[Brocker]

Originally Posted by Maccattack

Yep also left car keys inside car , didnt have a spare set so had to break a quarter light( shows my age..) , despite being in a large car park and attacking my car with a large metal object no one seemed to notice .
I have heard that kingfishers are around the Maldon end of the Chelmer (Heybridge way) , good luck , I haven't seen any yet .Isuspect a thermos flask might be a good idea for early mornings in winter.
MMac

Thanks for that. You are the second WABer to direct me there. Thats where I intend to look next week, weather permitting. I will let you know how I get on. . . .