That didn`t last long!

[stuburu1]

It wasn`t unusual for me to travel a fare distance to see a rare bird that would be kind enough to visit our shores but times change and so had I so it was decided that at the end of 2016 my own patch should be more keenly watched after all the top birders in the county would see up to 200 hundred species in a year with a bit of luck.More considered excursions like a few days at the coast here and there to see a lot of species such as sea birds,waders,geese migration etc .So February 2017 arrives and so did a Bluethroat at Willow tree fen in Lincolnshire,I forgot to mention that there would be the odd bird that I had never seen in the U.K. before as long as it wasn`t too far away,honest!So with reports not indicating how far into the fen it was located I decided to put my trust in the V3,70-300 cx combo instead of hauling my dslr/lens combo around an area that I had no knowledge of.What information I had gathered was that the bird spent most of it`s time in the safety of the reed bed only to come out briefly to provide that rare sighting.So with an early start I eventually found the fen which proved about as elusive as the bird and made my way in.There was a solitary figure in the distance standing near a reed bed so my pace quickened and on arrival he told me that he had seen it briefly in the reeds but we had to be patient and showed me the gap that the bird would visit for a couple of minutes "so you will have to be quick if you want a picture".After about an hour and one flask of tea the bird suddenly appeared,the heart rate went into overdrive as I tried to stay calm and get at least one decent record of this stunning bird.I was lucky in that this visit lasted all of three minutes and the agile nature of using the V3,70-300 cx paid dividends,a wise choice indeed,now back to my own atch,honest!

"I`ll settle for that but could you just turn around a bit for that blue throat ".



[ATTACH alt=""That`s better but could you just......" "]2405657[/ATTACH]
"That`s better but could you just......"



[ATTACH alt=""Yes nearly there but..." "]2405659[/ATTACH]
"Yes nearly there but..."

"That`s just a bit too far now".

"Oh yes I`ll settle for that you beauty,now back to the reed bed"!

Yes folks I know I`m mad but I wouldn`t swop it for...no can`t think of anything!

 

[yatakk]

Congratulations! I prefer image number 2.

 

[stuburu1]

Thanks,before I set out I would have settled for any of them but glad that you like that one,cheers.

 

[RichDitch]

First, congrats on not dipping on this twitch. That's a great bird and worthy of the chase. and those are great photos for such a rarity.

Secondly, your story is a very familiar one for me. I spent many years chasing every rarity within a few hours' drive when I lived in New Jersey, and continued that behavior when I moved here to Arizona. It has only been the increasing amount of time spent photographing birds locally that has mostly broken me of the practice, although it is still a great temptation when a species I have never seen is reported 300 miles away.

Thanks for giving me the vicarious thrill of your successful chase.

 

[stuburu1]

Thanks Richard sounds very much like we speak the same language!I know how hard it is for people to understand our type of behaviour but it's a hard habit to break.I think like you that trying to get more unique images of what is nearer to us has helped a lot and has certainly made my knowledge of the more common species that much greater and rewarding.Hold on,I've just heard of a Red Throated Diver being reported at a Reservoir not too far away..........mmmmm!

 

[fafitz]

Am by no stretch of the imagination a birder, but what a beautiful creature and all wonderful images of it. Thanks

 

[stuburu1]

Thanks Frank,glad that you could could see why I had to go for this one.I believe this is only the second record of a winter Bluethroat in the U.K. Stunning bird.

 

[Tord S Eriksson]

Thanks Frank,glad that you could could see why I had to go for this one.I believe this is only the second record of a winter Bluethroat in the U.K. Stunning bird.

Where I live in Sweden they are extremely rare, while up north in the summertime, they are fairly common, once even camped under a nest!

 

[stuburu1]

Just wished that we had more visits over here,stunning birds.

 

[CX Bob]

Hi, Stuart!
Congratulations on the rare event!
I immediately liked photo number one, in an overall sense, and also because it has that '3D pop' quality. Later, I remembered that DPR photos often show up a little too dark on my setup, and when I lightened the slightly darker number four, it showed the same qualities, as well as better showing off that terrific 'blue ascot'! Even as a non-birder, I vicariously enjoyed, as always, your well-written account of the moment!

 

[stuburu1]

Thank you Bob,I must admit that the words of David Yarrow (one of my favourite and most talented wildlife photographers) regarding accessibility being one of the most important factors rang very true on this particular occasion.Once I had access to the bird the agile way that the V3,70-300 cx enabled me to get the shots that I could only dream of.Like most things in life you never stop learning but weather or not you take notice of good advice now that's another story.Glad that you enjoyed the journey,Thanks again Bob.

 

[CX Bob]

Whoops! I meant to say it was number five which had a similar look to number one.
No real harm done. They're all good! ( :

 

[stuburu1]

Thanks Bob,I would have settled for any of them before setting out but to spend a few minutes with this bird was a bonus.