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It's been a while, again.....but this time I have a valid excuse. I've not been out very much, by choice. Instead I have chosen to work, work, work. I made a conscious decision that as I didn't really have the time to go out and photograph birds 'properly' I should stop until I do have the time to do it 'properly'. The time I do have at my disposal, which is not enough for photography but plenty long enough for a session at the gym, has therefore been spent at the gym or thinking about being at the gym. So there.

However, after my nightshift finished this morning at 07:00, I fancied a quick search for a 'lifer' that had been spotted on one of our reserves. A Desert Wheatear. A couple of record shots had been posted but the only give away to it's exact location was a post with blue rope tied around it. It was on the area of the scramble track....so shouldn't be too hard to find, right?

Anyway the plan was to leave work quick sharp, get there before anyone else and the sun, find the spot, set up in the desired and precise location and wait. Just to make it even easier a facebook friend happened to post a video recording of their nephew winning a motorcross race on that very track! 8 minutes I watched...and there were only two areas visible that were cordoned off with blue rope. And only one of them looked likely.

So I knew exactly where I was heading, what I was looking for and what to do when I arrived....Perfect.

Everything went to plan and arrived to see the bird from afar...it really stood out brightly against the dark dirt and grass and that was in the light before the sun came up. I got down there and set up as quickly as was sensible and as discreetly as was possible. I knew the challenge was going to be finding a suitable spot where there would be some depth to the shot...enough distance behind the bird to create a blurred background. I found it, a raised area of dirt where I was sure, that if this Wheatear was anything like it's more common cousins, it would stand upon to survey the surrounding area for food. I got in position, covered up and the wait began.

The bird was 'busy' feeding. It would stand still, then hop, hop, hop to the next insect, then again and so on. It was working it's way towards me when we both became simultaneously aware of a black cat prowling through the adjacent longer grass to my left. The bird didn't hang about. It flew about 30 yards further away...I cursed my luck but felt confident it would be back this way, in time. 

As it happens, it found itself in the territory of a rather protective and aggressive robin which soon chased it over to my right and well away from the cat. The cat was now looking towards the bolshy and brash robin and the Wheatear was again working it's way towards me.....the light was improving by the minute and I could feel the shot was getting ever closer and I'd only just got there in nature photography terms.

By now the bird was within about 25 ft and coming ever closer to it's raised mound destination. It then stopped in it's tracked and bobbed it's tail before stretching upwards, as if it had seen danger or felt threatened. I looked to my left and there it was.....the second person of the day, striding purposefully towards me and it. It was duly chased back up the field towards the robin....'birder' in persuit. I'm not gonna lie...I was livid as I lay there watching this seemingly confiding bird get stalked....They got their shot and left, but I was a bit disappointed with my friend's field craft.

By now, blood boiling, I decided that I'd have to move....not least because vans had started to turn up, vans and trailers and motor bikes and people and children and there was swearing and people walking the course and more swearing and bright clothes and flags. It was gravely apparent that the scramble track was going to be scrambled upon.....worst nightmare. 

There was now a sense of desperation and urgency about a previously inevitable photographic encounter.....I got some record shots...just in case it 'did one'. I began to move about, I had no real plan 'B'. No sooner would it land somewhere before it was moved on by another pedestrian motor cyclist inspecting the course whilst loudly regaling stories of spillages and carnage here, clearing table tops there...sounded more like working in a fast food emporium than an extreme sport!!

Joking aside, there was still a rare bird that needed photographing.....amidst the throngs of enthusiasts I spotted another birder looking for our little visitor. I beckoned him over as I knew roughly where the bird was. We had a scout about and eventually it popped up again. The shots I got were just the wrong side of the momentarily perfect light but not for the other photographer. He got a couple of nice shots and with a 'That'll do me' walked off in search of a short-eared owl.

Naturally I was delighted for him! But I began to feel that this was not going to be my day. I decided that if I was going to achieve anything like a decent shot I would have to set up and wait...roll the dice of fate, put all my eggs in one basket and so on and so on. There was only one thing to do set up where I had started! The bird obviously likes the patch...she'd return at some point...I'd just have to wait and hope.

Despite my anger levels being raised further by some foul mouthed teenagers who taunted me, made loud noises to scare any birds away, and eventually actually climbed over the rope cordon and walked infront of me whilst chasing the Wheatear back out of the field. I did get my shot in the end. (One of said boys I believe had an accident later, I hope he is not too badly hurt and recovers fairly quickly).

 I took alot more shots than I normally would, due to the circumstances of not knowing when the session would be curtailed.

So what an eventful morning. Sleep deprived, in a rage at times all in order to spend a brief few minutes in the close proximity of a small bird. Worth it....Definitely! Especially when they had to delay the motor bike practice runs whilst I found my way, 'quickly' from the track......