Podacst- Building a hide to photograph Dipper
Listen to the Podcast recorded out by the river.
I have to say that I am excited about the coming breeding season. Last year had been so good and for me, it's the best part of the year by far. The discovery of a Dipper nest had been a really good find and I had really enjoyed the experience. I have literally spent the last 8 months thinking of a way to get close to the birds without any disturbance. I decided that the best way to do this was to build a hide close to the "potential" nest site…… the one they used last year, and then to build it before breeding activity began Dippers are known to use the same nest sites year on year so there is a really good chance that they will use last years nest again. Believe it or not the hide is in the photo below so I am pleased that I have been able to conceal as well as it turned out. It was built with natural poles hammered in to the 4 corners, then I wrapped the whole thing with camouflage material as usual and left a little hole to slide my way in. Finally, the whole thing was covered with leaf litter and other woodland debris to match in with the bank side. I had been thinking this through ever since last April when I left for Australia and then even on the plane to and from the USA last month, so it was good to get it sorted. I sat inside for a bit hoping that a Dipper would show but that didn't happen. On my walk back to the car up-stream I saw a Dipper ahead of me. I sat down, got the laptop out and recorded the Podcast for the Blog (see above). Then the one Dipper was joined by another. This is obviously a pair. I was thrilled not only to see one but to see two together couldn't have worked out better. Hopefully they will breed in last years nest and if they do, I will be set up and ready.
Wildlife in a Suburban Garden 
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