In a bid to take better wildlife photographs (or at least to have more opportunities to do so) we (Sue and I) have joined a local bird club that has a number of members-only reserves throughout the West Midlands.
The nearest one is only about a couple of miles away (as the crow flies) so should be nice and handy.
Signing up was a bit of a hassle with problems on the club’s website. I did send a couple of messages (via email and messenger) as well as persevering with the site.The following day, I tried again and all went through as it should.
Credit to the club as I had replies to both queries – there had been technical issues with the website so it wasn’t just me !
Yesterday morning was my first full day as a full member so I took the opportunity to nip out and check out the local reserve.
The weather was forecast to be another hot one so popping out early-ish (around seven) would beat the heat.
Luckily the codes I had been given worked on the private car park barrier and I was soon parked up.
From the car park, a short walk of around a quarter of a mile, brought me to the gates of the reserve proper. Another coded padlock (codes okay) and I was in.
Being my first time, I headed for the nearest hide from where, I fired up the camera and shot off a couple pics.
I looked at the review on the read screen only to be greeted with the words DEMO superimposed over the last photo.
That could only mean one thing – some ejit had forgotten to replace the memory card after uploading some photos yesterday. Classic schoolboy error – or to put it another way, what a knob !
Hoping that I had spare cards in my camera bag back at the car, I made my way back only to discover that I didn’t even have a backup – What a knob !
At least, I’d confirmed that the lock codes worked and I got a bit of a feel of the layout. Maybe better luck tomorrow ?
Tomorrow
Up nice and early before checking the camera over and heading back to the reserve.
Again, I was the only one in the car park.
I made my way back the same way as yesterday but continued on past the hides I’d visited and on to the next.
This hide was atop a bit of a hill overlooking a few pools. The inside had some nice soft carpet on the benches and shelf to make propping a camera up easier and more comfortable.
From my vantage point, I spotted a heron (too far away for a decent photo) along with some coots, ducks, little egrets and swans (the last two, I was able to get a half decent photos of).
I spent some time in the hide, enjoying the peace and quiet whilst practicing my photo skills, especially my ability to capture birds in flight – but I’m getting there.
I returned the way I’d come, stopping off at yesterday’s hide where I spotted herons and more egrets before moving on the imaginatively titled Hide A. This two storey hut overlooks a (at present) dried out pond.
I did manage to grab a magpie and, a first for me, Eurasian Jay.
Nothing super but a few usable photos and a very enjoyable, relaxed couple of hours in nature.
I’ll have to try and persuade Sue to come and have a look.