If I could choose a bird that is the most difficult to photograph it would be a Dipper for sure.  Firstly, they are not all that easy to get close enough to, but that is usually the case with most birds.  The big problem is the habitat, usually that's fast flowing water.  Where there is fast flowing water there is usually lots of white water and glare and this causes havoc with the cameras settings, it is so hard to get it right. To make matters worse Dippers have that impressive white breast which stands out like a beacon and reflects light strongly.   Let me tell you about today because it has been a good one.

The forecast was for rain in the late afternoon so it was good idea to be out reasonably early this morning.  I made my way back to the river and specifically the "carcass" by the waterfall.  I had seen a Dipper there yesterday and I thought that waiting there would be a good option.  I would be able to capture anything that came in to feed on that, but also it was  a good place for Dipper as well.  The river is not too wide there so I chose a spot at the foot of a large tree so that I could tuck myself down the bank, near the water's edge, with the tree hiding me from behind.  The carcass was about 15 feet from me and I would have got a really good look at anything that came in to feed. I am undecided as to whether the dead animal is a deer or a sheep, it looks more like a deer today that's for sure. I sat under a military cape, using it as a hide. Then to break up my shape, I threw camouflage netting over both myself and the camera ( with the lens poking out obviously). Time went by and it wasn't long before there was some action to witness. Crows were above me definitely interested in the animal, as I said before something has been feeding on it because you can see the rib cage and bit's of flesh that have yet to be torn off it. The crows never did come  down to feed, I think I was perhaps a bit too close and they were put off. It was at least an hour before I caught sight of my first Dipper, it was feeding some 25 yards down stream……… typical, but I was hopeful that it would get closer eventually.  Time went by and still it didn't come my way.  Suddenly, on the rock in front of me and about 10 feet away, there he was. I hurriedly took some photos, the light wasn't too bad and he was still, singing his song because even though I could hardly hear him, I could see his throat puffing in and out. It is really satisfying when you hatch a plan and it is successful.  The dipper couldn't see me and was relaxed as he sand away, even though I was only 10 feet away. After a while he flew up stream where later on I saw him,  from a distance, with his new partner.

MORE ABOUT THE STONE THROWING INCIDENT

I have had quite a bit of support from people after I asked for comments about the stone throwing child on Sidmouth Sea Front at the beginning of the week. However, I did receive some unpleasant comments from the mother of the child and then today, a very unpleasant and arrogant 'rant" from a man who would appear to be the grandfather of the child. Just to tell you again what happened.  

I was photographing Purple Sandpiper on the rocks at Jaconb's Ladder Sidmouth last Monday when a family party walked behind me. One of the children on seeing me and my large lens, looked to see what I was taking pictures of.  It appeared to me that he then saw the birds and threw a stone at them.  I protested, in the direction of them and not specifically at the child, and the mother totally lost her sense of decorum and began shouting abuse at me. (for apparently protesting at the child's behaviour). Since then I have had a sarcastic comment left on the blog from the mother and then when I removed it, another in the same tone.  Today,  I had a comment from the man saying that I shouldn't be taking pictures on the sea front and that children are children and should be allowed to throw stones at birds. He also proceeded to tell me what a Blog is and how he has the right to say what he likes on "MY BLOG".  Not wanting to make the situation worse because I would be as bad as them in that case, but as both people failed to leave proper email address's and I can't contact them, this is the only way I can respond. Please don't post offensive comments on my Blog  Finally if you want to communicate with the world then you can set up your own blog and don't use mine  as a way to insult the author!  This is a Blog that seeks to to record and inform people of my wildlife sightings,it is not a forum for discussions about the rights and wrongs of stone throwing.  The opinions expressed on this blog are mine and I have the right and will exercise  that right in the future, to delete any comments that seek to insult me!