Yesterday saw me executing my plan to get nearer to , and consequently better photos of the Ringed Plover that I have been trailing for the last few days. At low tide around 2.30 I made my way to the harbour and positioned myself on the outer railway embankment wall ready for the tide to rise and the arrival of the Plover. It was very wind and fresh, some would describe it as bracing, but not me it was cold! I was prepared for a 4 or 5 hour wait but at first I was concerned that the birds wouldn’t return to the roost. If that happened I would be still trapped until the tide came in and then receded again before I could get back, being trapped of course by the tide.
I was relieved after an hour when the first of the flock arrived.

They were aware of me even though I was tucked away and they landed some 30 yards or so down the embankment. After waiting and waiting for them to come closer to me I decided that this strategy was not working and decided to take the initiative. I literally shuffled on my backside closer and closer to them, every time a train came by they would leave the wall and fly quickly around in magnificent circles in front of me. I discovered the cameras limitations at this point, it just would not focus on them at that speed and coupled with the active choppy water behind it just did not want to play ball. The cameras preference to focus on the water was proving to be a real handicap to say the least. But my shuffling was paying off and at one point after being disturbed they settled about 15 feet from me. Great……….. I took some good shots but unfortunately with the on set of evening the sun had disappeared behind the wall and light conditions were now dull! So with high ISO settings and consequent “noisy” images I did get a few good shots. Believe it or not I took 400 and I am left with 6 that I like! This first one below is about the best. This bird is a juvenile and not as wary as the adults and allowed me to get very close.

So now I have got it “sussed” but the light was getting worse, it is hard to get it all exactly right.

This one is an adult, you can tell that by the worn wing coverts, if it were a juvenile they would be fresh with no worn edges. That is one of the Dunlin asleep just in front.

Click on the image to see this better at my Flikr galleries.

I liked this one because it shows how well they blend in to the background.

A nice image which gives a real impression of the features of this bird. Again an adult in eclipse plumage. Look at the lack of eye ring in the Ringed Plover and the subtle shade on the back.