It's hardly been a day for any kind of photography , so dull and overcast making it extremely difficult. 

However I had a couple of Cormorant encounters today and one in particular is worth a mention. I went, at dawn, to my hide on the brook to try for more Kingfisher shots. The water level is still quite high and a bit murky and I suspect that the Kingfisher is having to use plan "B". I don't really know what that is but he seems to make it work.  I am not too concerned because when the level was high for 8 weeks continually he still managed to get enough prey. He appears to be roaming up and down a little bit more at the moment rather than being centred on my hide area. So there I am sat in the hide at around 8.30 and suddenly a Cormorant was  in front of me. He swam under water, up-stream for about 50 yards,dived and then suddenly, only seconds later, was literally right there only about 3 feet away. He must have been swimming incredibly fast.  It is always good when birds are that close. Firstly you get amazing views which are really special and secondly it is proof that your hide and the subterfuge is working well. When they are not aware of you their behaviour is very natural and is not influenced in any way by your presence. Later,I walked down the brook wanting to see what was about and hopefully to spot the Kingfisher. Glad to say that I did, so he is OK. I got as far as the river and looked around for the Goosander reported yesterday. I found it quite easily but I didn't get close enough for a photo good enough to post here. It was a shame because as I watched it in the distance a lady dog walker stood watching it from the bank only 15 feet away and it wasn't in the slightest bit concerned about her.

On the way back there was another Cormorant in the canal very close to the Double Locks pub yard. I took the photo's (above). Back on the Brook now, there was another one, probably the same individual from earlier and I suspect that when the water level is up, this is quite a good spot for him.

Getting back to the theme of the hide being  no threat to the bird life, they are obviously really used to it now. That is one of the advantages of leaving it in situ. It pretty much becomes part of the scene, and when you are inside it makes no odds whatsoever. Well, you can see that from this photo of a Little Egret, with the hide just behind.  He was catching lob worms in the mud that I had trampled very near to the entrance to the hide. 

 I almost forgot to mention the Buzzard who was a little bit more confiding today. Perhaps he is getting used to me because, as I explained yesterday, the eyesight of a Buzzard is phenomenal and he is always aware of you and that's for sure.