These days I don’t like travelling big distance to see or photograph birds but today I’m looking forward to visiting a new location. Initially I’m having trouble programming the sat-nav but eventually it dose the job and I arrive bang on the right location a little later than planned.
Its cold in a northerly wind but at least the light is good as I head to beach to try and locate the Snow Bunting. Not knowing exactly where the bird is located I head for the sand high tide line where they are can usually be found and stroll up the beach. Over the next hour or so I must have walked up and down the beach six times in each direction without success, eventually I calling it a day and head back to the car for a much needed coffee.
On the way back to the car I chat with another birder, he suggests I try Lunt Meadows on my way home as up to three Short-eared Owls were seen the previous late afternoon, I program the sat-nav, its only six miles away….I think why not.
Lunt Meadows a new venue for me and a I’m a little unsure what to expect, something like Leighton Moss it defiantly isn’t, more like a managed area with some scrapes and a couple of screens, never the less I’m here to try and seen SEO which this site seems to have quite a high hit rate.
Arriving in the what is a basic carpark I chat with a photo tog who is packing up for the day and ask for the heads up on the reserve, he describes whats basically an area in the form of a rectangle with some reed fringed pools and rough ground. Located on the edge of the West Lancashires growing area its more often famous for the masses of Pink Footed Geese to be found at this time of year. He tells me with luck I have a good chance of seeing Short-eared Owl and suggests locating myself on the far side of the reserve as its there they seem to favour.
Now in the late afternoon as the sun sinking I'm in position, all geared up and ready for the action. Bang on the predicted 3.30 pm appearance, I see the first SEO wheeling, hovering, and diving quite close, I rattle of a couple of frames, then another SEO appears from the right, its all action but the camera struggles to lock auto-focus quickly so I switch to a custom AF case 3 setting, its better and I get some close images.....hopefully !
4.14 pm and the light is now marginal to get any worthwhile images, just as well as the 32 Gb CF card is full and my others are in the car, time to call its a day. As I walk back to the car another photo tog asks was I on the far bank?...I said "yes"..."you must have had some close views".....oh yes !
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