Photographers talk about the `'golden hour", this is when the sun is low in the sky and a lovely glow is cast on your subject, there are less unhelpful shadows and detail is picked out and displayed more effectively as well. Late this afternoon I went to some nearby pools where I had photographed Water Rail before Christmas ( see the Blog post below).  I thought I would have a good chance of a photograph this afternoon. The light was absolutely beautiful with amazing reflections on the water. I was quite disappointed though when just the opportunity I had hoped for presented itself. One of the resident Rails swam across from one nearby island to the one in front of me but I didn't see it until the last second and  it disappeared out of view before I could get a shot!  Then suddenly a Stonechat flew in and perched on the reed mace opposite and it was as though a golden floodlight was shining on it.

Related articles

Water Rail, a great success and the first Blackcap of the winter.