as i knew the lake would be frozen over on saturday morning i though i better get there before sun up to ensure a good spot......how wrong was i, not another person to be seen all morning......do they know something i don't ?after four hours sitting in -1degrees i was beginning to think they did as i had seen absolutely nothing....was just at the point of packing up & moving on when one of these spectacular birds showed up........i took a couple of shots then it turned round & started to walk towards me, it got so close i had to switch cameras because all i could get in was it's head, when i reached the point where i could no longer get a focus on it & slowly changed my set up, fortunately i carry another body with a shorter lens attached so it was just a case of leaving the tripod mounted set up & hand holding the shorter one.......it stayed with me for well over an hour so i went a happy snapper.....hope you like....
the bittern looked like he was rehearsing for the ministry of silly walks at times......
managed to catch a short eared owl with a vole on the way home.....
Woderful photos again Paul, nice to know you and the bittern are nearly on speaking terms now.Love the owl, so beautiful.
Hope you weren't too cold, and you had a nice warm flask with you.
Viv.
Well that was worth 4 hours Paul, we did 5 hours at Burdon Moor today and I got was a steam train, a micro light and a kestrel. LOLPhotos are brilliant as always
Enjoy the world around you
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Stunning photos, Paul. I'm really envious except for the waiting for four hours in sub-zero temperatures because I'm a southern softie.
The ice does bring the Bitterns out in the open giving much better photo opportunities than one usually gets. I think it must have been taking lessons from John Cleese.
Regards TJ
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A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. (Chinese proverb)
Thanks folks. It's funny how while waiting for the bittern from about 6-30 am until 10-30am I was absolutely numb yet as soon as I spotted the bittern the cold was completely forgotten about.
Owls everywhere at the moment judiM. 15at rainton Friday night, 8 yesterday at prestwick & I saw at least 6 today at cress well & seen some at wood horn on the way home. Also seen tawny, barn & little owls today.
Got home to find a treecreeper in the garden which is a first for us.
Superb bird and superb photos paul
I know nowt :)
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thank you galatas...................