All things come to those who wait

For seven years now I’ve been visiting Rainham Marshes, hoping one day I might see some Bearded Tits. They’ve proved so elusive I was beginning to wonder if the photos I’d see from other visitors were some sort of elaborate Photoshop hoax. However, finally, today a pair of them popped out from the reeds to feed and even stayed long enough for me to catch their photo – success at last!

Elsewhere around the reserve I had some fun exploring the possibilities of the reedbeds, using some beautiful backlight and their movement in the wind.

Of course, there were lots of other birds around as well as the Bearded Tits, although many of them too far from me for meaningful photos.

I couldn’t leave though, without taking a few photos of the sparrows, who live in large flocks nearby. Their garrulous chat in the bushes by the visitor centre is enchanting and a couple of them were kind enough to pose for me in the sunshine.

1 January 2018 - A lone lapwing

The start of a new year can mean many things but for us it meant a trip to Ikea this morning to buy a few bits and bobs. We arrived early to beat the rush, which gave us time for a sneaky visit to Rainham Marshes on our way home. Sadly the weather gods evidently hadn't received our email about providing glorious sunshine so instead we had leaden skies and drizzly rain! This was hardly conducive to successful photography and even the tame robin was reluctant to come out from the bushes to greet us. Eventually we found there was some bird life to be photographed from one of the hides and I came away with one moderately successful shot. I can't help feeling my solitary lapwing would look even better photographed in good light but at least he posed for me. I guess one day I'll get to use my new long lens under sunny skies but I fear it may be a while yet!

All that remains is to wish all my Photoblog friends a very happy new year. I hope 2018 brings you many wonderful photo opportunities and look forward to sharing my tenth year of daily photoblogging with you all!

20 December 2017 - A bird in the hand.....

There's an English saying which says, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush". It came to mind in a rather literal way this morning when I had a close encounter of the feathered kind at Rainham Marshes. I was aware, through the RSPB reserve's Facebook page, that they had a rather tame robin living in the cordite store of this former military firing range so I went prepared with a small bag of mealworms in case our paths should cross.

As I walked into the densely overgrown cordite store area I kept my eyes peeled and it was only a couple of minutes before I heard the distinctive birdsong and a flash of scarlet came flying over to a nearby branch. I took a few photos and then put my camera down so I could dig out my stash of mealworms.  Sitting down on a nearby bench, it didn't take long for him or her (I can never tell with robins!) to pluck up the courage to eat some morsels from my outstretched hand. Leaving a few mealworms on the back of the bench I went to take some more photos at close quarters and realised my long lens was now too long -  a change of lens was needed! I also took a few seconds of video with my phone which you can see here:

It was such an honour to be trusted by this tiny creature but I knew all along that my feathered friend had other trusted confidants too. I popped by again later in the morning and found John, one of the RSPB volunteers, feeding the robin by hand. This allowed me to take the one image I hadn't been able to capture this morning - the bird in the hand shot.

Finally, I went back to the visitor centre to grab some lunch before heading off around the reserve in search of some Bearded Tits. Sadly they were in hiding today but I did find some other birds, including a very pretty pair of Stonechats - literally two birds in a bush!