I'm pretty sure that you will agree that, at last I have managed to get the kind of Dipper shots that I have been trying for. There is a nice  answer that you can give when people ask "How long did it take you to get this photograph".  Well in terms of shutter speed, about 1800/1 second, but that doesn't even begin to tell the story. Firstly I had to find somewhere that I knew that held a t least one Dipper, that was quite simple but goes all the way back to last August when I first discovered a good territory not too far from home. Then, I have spent 2 or 3  hours most week days since 24th February, a total of 12 visits and around 30 hours waiting for a bird to be in the right place at the right time.  I have enjoyed every minute of it even though it's been a bit frustrating at times. Today, somehow, I knew it was going to work out right.  I have got to know the habits of the Dippers on this little stretch of river.  I know which are the birds preferred perches and which perches  will give the best photographs, dependant on the light at any given time of the day.  Today my plan was to arrive just a bit earlier than usual because I have noted a pattern of behaviour that told me that the Dippers were always in the same spot on the river when I arrived at around 1.30.  I thought that if I got to that spot well before that time then there was a fair chance that they would then come and join me, and that's how it worked out!  The pair were opposite me for what seemed like ages, at least half an hour. One was feeding and the other, just sitting quietly.  I watched all this with the usual anticipation, they were frustratingly on the opposite bank and between me and them was a waterfall. I have seen them on the waterfall so many times I just knew that they would take up a position right on the fall  just in front of me. The light was perfect, the background was too and all I needed now was a bird. Eventually the one resting, the female I think, started to get moving and my heart raced a bit when I could see that she was going to fly over to the centre of the stream……… on the rock above the falls………. right where I wanted her! She landed and was still hidden but after only a second or two, appeared , posing perfectly.  I was wearing my "gillie suit' and she had no idea of me . I just snapped away at her. She had a good old scratch and continued  to pose  on one leg  as you can see above.