I have said a few times that quite often a picture doesn’t speak a thousand words as the saying goes. This picture is one of those. We are in the middle of yet another horrible storm and we have been since dawn, but I thought, if I dress properly I could go out to Turf on the Exe and try to photograph the Black-necked Grebe that has been seen there for the last few days. With my wife’s words ringing in my ears….basically “You’re crazy” or something along those lines, I got myself ready. I put on my waders, my most waterproof coat and got the camera and lens fully protected, I climbed in to the car almost turning back as the rain hammered down. I like an adventure though and I thought, what’s the worst that can happen, I’ll just get wet and cold!
At Powderham it was still pouring down and the wind was at least force 8 or more. As I trudged towards Turf along the edge of the Estuary the wind and rain was at my back and apart from the mile or so walk it was OK. I was still dry when I get to Turf but as I turned in to the wind and rain for the first time, my glasses immediately covered in rain, it was hard to see. I scanned the water for the grebe but no sign unfortunately. I wasn’t particularly worried, still hopeful and then I saw it. I sat in the mud in my waders and took a few pictures. The bird was diving to fish almost constantly and every time it went under I crept a bit close until eventually I was really close but not too close as to cause any disturbance. It was beautiful to watch this hardy little bird with it’s red eye shining almost like a beacon. The rain was lashing down and I was getting wet as it trickled down my neck. My camera was dry but inevitably the lens got a few rain spots on it. I decided to wipe it but that was a mistake, all it did was smear it completely with water and even though the bird was by now even closer, that was the end of it but I had taken some really good shots (which I haven’t looked at yet). I sat watching this lovely little thing fishing and eventually it moved away up towards the estuary whereas previously it had been literally up against the lock gates and along the retaining wall. I started my trudge back to Powderham, the rain was now pounding in to my face, it was tough going and I was literally picked up off my feet twice, quite frightening but exhilarating as well. It got harder and harder towards the end, my waders started to fall down and a sock came off inside my boot but Powderham got nearer and nearer and all the time I kept thinking of the great pictures that I had on the memory card.