- or more precisely a Warblers nest with a Cuckoo-egg.
A couple of weeks ago I was shooting Warblers and Nightingales at a local meadow, when suddenly a Cuckoo (followed by some warblers) crashlanded in the vegetation. After a minute or so it reappeared and flew away. It was out of shooting-range so I went afterwards to investigate, and found this warbler-nest with a cuckoo-egg.
It would have been great to follow the Cuckoo-chick, but I have decided that I can't put up my hide nearby without disturbing the nest.
20D + Sigma 28-70, full frame.
Posted by Rene de Heer on June 16, 2006 at 7:50 AM
Nice image Helge, couldnt you use a remote trigger or something?
Rene de heer
Hi Rene, you are raising an interesting point! Maybe I should look into that right away. Next week I'm going to Spitsbergen, where I hope to photograph nesting Geese and Shorebirds. It might be a good choice to find some remote equipment already for that event!
Can anybody recommend what to buy in the remote equipment area ?
Posted by Rene de Heer on June 16, 2006 at 9:51 AM
Helge, you migth want to have a look at the Foto Bothe website or speedgraphic in the UK...they might have those triggers. Or maybe Warehouse express.
Rene de Heer
Hi Helge,
Even by using a remote you will surely be disturbing the nest.
If you were to have put a hide , or remote, up before the nesting season the warbler would have taken to it as part of the scenery, however by doing it after she has layed she will be very, wary of it and it could put her off her eggs for long enough to cool them.
A lot depends on how your subject reacts to small disturbance, and it's only really you who can assess this, but erring on the side of caution is maybe wise.
I note that you say you are looking to photograph other species with the remote and at no time do you mention the warbler.
Thanks for your comments! I agree with your comments regarding caution, that's excactly why I choose not to revisit the nest. When I found it on May 31st, the vegetation was not very tall. It is now, and therefore visiting the nest would cause a track in the vegetation which a fox could follow. When I first saw the nest I wasn't disturbing, because when a cuckoo lays it's egg, incubation has never begun. For the same reason I didn't se the mother bird - which by the way is a Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris).
I have never tried photographing with remote, but I think it could be a way when the equipment can be set up in the open without destroying vegetation around the nest.
Discussion
8 repliesA couple of weeks ago I was shooting Warblers and Nightingales at a local meadow, when suddenly a Cuckoo (followed by some warblers) crashlanded in the vegetation. After a minute or so it reappeared and flew away. It was out of shooting-range so I went afterwards to investigate, and found this warbler-nest with a cuckoo-egg.
It would have been great to follow the Cuckoo-chick, but I have decided that I can't put up my hide nearby without disturbing the nest.
20D + Sigma 28-70, full frame.
Rene de heer
Can anybody recommend what to buy in the remote equipment area ?
Rene de Heer
Interesting to see the two different eggs side by side.
Even by using a remote you will surely be disturbing the nest.
If you were to have put a hide , or remote, up before the nesting season the warbler would have taken to it as part of the scenery, however by doing it after she has layed she will be very, wary of it and it could put her off her eggs for long enough to cool them.
A lot depends on how your subject reacts to small disturbance, and it's only really you who can assess this, but erring on the side of caution is maybe wise.
I note that you say you are looking to photograph other species with the remote and at no time do you mention the warbler.
John
Well spotted and well taken. I agree with John's comments about erring on the side of caution.
Best wishes
Phil
I have never tried photographing with remote, but I think it could be a way when the equipment can be set up in the open without destroying vegetation around the nest.
Cheers, Helge