A new way of displaying media on the blog.

I know some of these pictures have been seen before but this is in essence, a test. I used an iPad to combine video and still images in to a slide show with annotated descriptions. In that way the Blog reader can get a better feel for the environment that the pictures were taken. Quite whether you like the sound is another matter, it doesn't need to be there, if you don't like it, simply mute it on your computer. I am trying to keep abreast of the current developments in digital media.

To my mind, taking photographs out in the countryside is as much about the experience of being there as getting the shot, and that's good because there are very long periods when hardly anything is seen at all. Then, suddenly the waiting becomes worthwhile. Take today for example. I was sitting in the river hide waiting for a Dipper to show. For more than an hour……. nothing except of course, a beautiful relaxing scene in front of me. If only you were able to see it, hear it, smell it, you would be able to feel the pleasure as I do. You don't really need wildlife, that's a bonus but when a truly wild creature shows it's self then it's very exciting and rewarding. Suddenly a flash of whiteness caught my eye from down stream, I had been waiting for Dippers to observe and photograph and my instant reaction was a Dippers white breast flashing in the light. But no, instantly I re-assessed my thoughts, it was a Goosander, a beautiful fish eating duck. It was't just an immaculate drake but his lovely mate as well. They bobbed around in the torrent moving down the riffles like experienced white-water kayakers and used the slower eddies near the bank to remain still. They were with me for just a minute or two and then the fast flow carried them out of my sight and that was the end of that encounter. A special one with a species that is very, very wary and had they been aware of me they would never have given me the chance of a photograph.

I am actually writing this in the hide over looking the weir in front of me and down stream to my right, tucked away under an overhang is an historic Dipper nest site which contains two previously used. Dipper nests in varying states of disrepair. The year before last Dippers laid in the nest here but two successive clutches of eggs were predated, probably by a Grey Squirrel that I saw a couple of times searching for the nest. Last year a pair of Dippers showed an interest in using the site but eventually moved further down stream, no more than 100 meters and built a natural nest on the steep moss covered bank side. Today's weather is sunny and the photo opportunity is so good if a Dipper turns up that I am tempted to wait and wait even though 2 hours have passed without success. My records show that in previous years I had long periods without seeing Dippers and eventually they would arrive, I am hoping that this happens today. However, bottoms can only take so much.