Photograph of a Dipper,I loved the loneliness of this bird here against the backdrop of the river.This Dipper was perched on this 'washing' stone, a favorite place for the Dippers to clean/preen and distribute the oil over their feathers as these bird's spend a lot of time in the water.Not been back for a while and it was nice to see/hear their 'clink,clink'call's again,lovely to see a few juvenile's fishing for themselves with their parents tenderly showing them if they got it wrong,beautiful to watch.
I like this, good space and sense of environment, great pose too; but a slight tilt down to get the full reflection would have been the "cherry on the cake" for me!
Thanks for your comments, Andy, where do I start Its a mixed story really, this year has been very bad,there has been 3 pairs in the past with the river being split between the 3, this year early on(march/april) they started to display and mate,caught some of this with my shots and posted them, the following week the nest had been left,same thing happened at another nest site at the begining of the river where another pair nest,this one had been attacked, so along time went by where I was going up 2-3 times aweek and up until 6 weeks ago there was only two nests,from which 3 chicks from one and the 2 from the other have been successful, the male of the third pair was alone at the main waterfall and still is,don't no what happed to his mate?? very sad to watch as he's still at time's calling with their starling like call, returned this week and I've only seen one set of chicks, I left it for a few weeks because most times I was there I was having 'words' with dog walkers looking at the nests,walkers in the water also looking and children chasing dippers down the river,dogs left to move freely in the water when there are signs telling you to keep them on there leads photographer's are sometimes the problem but from my own view do have more respect for the wildlife there than the forementioned groups of people, Dippers are for me the great british bird and I've hated what I have seen, and where and when I could I've helped the dippers,by informing and telling those mentioned people the result of there actions,etc to back off etc,I photograph dippers there head to toe in camo gear,lay on my belly in the natural bends/corners of the river taking photos of nice behaviour,then a child or dog or walker comes walking down the river so the problem is here and until it is either fenced off or controlled by warden's it will never change,for me its sad but on the other hand nice to see the chicks I've seen and show's mother nature is still that strong that these birds continue to breed,hope that answers your question andy,sorry for the length,All the best
Not too long at all, I know what you mean re the dog walkers, I've had a few run in's myself over the years, some people don't take too kindly when being asked to follow the guidelines that Natural England try to enforce, totally agree with the fence issue, for the sake of the wildlife one needs to be erected.
Discussion
15 repliesAll Comments And Advice Welcome
Tech;
Nikon D300
Nikon F4600VR
F4,1/40 @600mm
iso 400
Matrix,-0.3EV
PP-CS3,Full Frame/No Crop
Thanks For Looking
Steve
BTW Our same location?
Dave
It's a beauty Craig, the isolation conveyed works very well, a fine capture.
Do you know if the dippers bred at this site this year, because I've read a lot of conflicting views regarding this in the written press ?
Andy...
Keith.
Not too long at all, I know what you mean re the dog walkers, I've had a few run in's myself over the years, some people don't take too kindly when being asked to follow the guidelines that Natural England try to enforce, totally agree with the fence issue, for the sake of the wildlife one needs to be erected.
Once again cracking shot
Andy...
JohnR
Rene de Heer