Opportunist Photography

On my way to Cowpen Bewley for another look at the nightingale, I called first at North Gare access road where I was pleased to come across a group of whimbrel which I managed to photograph from Tiggy [my VW Tiguan!]. However a dead piece of reed seemed to mar an otherwise good picture. Certainly this one seemed sharp and was a nice pose in rather harsh light.

Whimbrel

As you can see the grass passes right in front of the bird's bill. Then I had an idea. In Photoshop6 I cloned the bird's bill colour and then using a very fine tool I 'painted' over the grass where it crossed the bill so that now it appears the grass is behind the bird. I think it works really well as shown by the next photograph.

Whimbrel I still had the car window down and I could hear very loud hirundine-type noise nearby. A group of house martins were nervously trying to get near some mud by my car. I switched the engine off and picked up the camera...

House Martin
House Martin

After the access road I drove slowly along the Zinc Road. A group of four wheatears were on the security fence. Three insisted on facing the wrong way!

Wheatear Cowpen Bewleyy had become very muddy. The nightingale was still singing well but I failed to get any photos as he remained very skulky - providing glimpses deep in the undergrowth. He could well argue he didn't need to appear: surely the wonderful sound was sufficient?

So I made my way to Dorman's Pool and walked from the car park along the path that runs beside the railway. It was alive with sedge warblers and whitethroats. Spring was in full swing.

Whitethroat Sedge Warbler

Sedge Warbler Whitethroat

I had been told that garden warbler and whinchat could be found but I didn't stumble on them. However various birds provided nice images. Not just close-ups but rather nice photographs that place the birds in their immediate environment.

I particularly like the next image:

Whitethroat Eventually I did get to Saltholme where the best birds were, apparently, a pair of drake garganey on fire station field. I could only see one when I first arrived. A pair of avocets were asleep on the fire station pool too.

Garganey Avocets

A reed bunting was singing in the car park. A mute swan attempted to decapitate me!

Mute Swan Reed Bunting

Back by the Phil Stead hide and the fire station pools a grey heron was fishing.

Heron A couple I had met a couple of weeks ago at Hummersea said they had been trying to photograph both garganeys but there was always one with his head underwater. I like a challenge. I have to admit I took a huge number of photos - many with both heads underwater! However this was my best shot!

Garganey

Walking back from the visitor centre with a woodpecker under my arm I saw a dog on the footpath in front of me walking, as it were, ahead of me. I stopped amused and amazed. It was a fox in the car park. There were people around, young children. One couple were staring at the fox who continued to stroll unconcerned. I walked quickly to Tiggy; grabbed my camera from the boot.

Tried to stalk around to get a shot of the fox. He didn't mind. 'It's a nature reserve', he said. 'I'm safe here!!!'

Fox Fox Then a woodsand came up at Boldon Flats. I drove there and saw the bird quite easily thanks to the friendly birders there. It was trying to rain and although good views could be had in the scope it was too far to photograph so this is the only photo not taken on the day:

Wood Sandpiper

219 birds 2012.