It would be very hard to put in to words what a great, great exciting, fulfilling and rewarding morning I had today. To start with I don't normally get up at the crack of dawn, I am not a morning person but I made an exception today. I set the alarm for 6 and by 20 past I was on my way to the nearby Alphin Brook. I thought that if I got in to my hide before dawn, then when the sun rose I would be in position and hopefully get a shot of the Green Sandpiper that I have seen for the last three days and I really would like to get a good photo of this species. So I approached the chosen spot and even in the darkness I disturbed a Grey Heron fishing in just the spot that I had planned to be. I quickly set up and within a minute I was tucked inside with a coffee poured. It was still quite dull at way past 7 and even though the Grey Wagtail was around my feet almost, it was too dim to get anything like the kind of photo I want. So, at around 7.40 I was pleased as the sun started to rise and cast a bit of light on proceedings. I was even more heartened when the Wagtail appeared to my left and I started to get a few shots of it…………. then wow… wow …. wow……. just a few feet in front of me a Kingfisher appeared and my heart raced as I realised that I was going to get the best chance ever to photograph Britain's most attractive and iconic bird.

It bobbed up and down and cocked it's head on the side to search the water beneath it. It took absolutely no notice of the hide whatsoever. The camera settings were adjusted to try and get the very best photo. I still couldn't believe my luck and I took 20 shots before he flew over to the opposite bank, still only 15 foot away.

After a while it flew off towards the football club and not down stream to the more wild area which was a surprise. I sat back and looked at the images on the camera and , well frankly I was elated. I remember seeing a Collared Aracari, a Toucan species, in Belize in the 1980's and the thrill that gave me. Frankly this encounter stands alongside that. I have also said previously that you can't really call yourself a wildlife photographer until you have a few good Kingfisher photos in your portfolio, and now I have! It got better though, the Egret came down right in front of me and did a bit of fishing and I managed even better shots of the Grey Wagtail.