Emma's Safaris

Last night I realised that I had not been outside for a morning walk in weeks. Firstly, I had COVID and it was pretty bad and then after recovering (eventually) from that I had an endometriosis flare up and wasn’t able to walk. It was not a good introduction to the colder weather which I usually love.

I decided that I would get myself out of bed today, carry with me some paracetamol and just get out there to be at the reserve just as the sun was peeking through the sky and nature did not disappoint. Better still, the pain did not arrive.

I cannot tell you how wonderful it is when a plan comes together. The morning frost combined with the promise of continuous sunshine created this beautiful misty glow on the water as I sat in the first hide and waited to see what emerged.

Cormorants seem to be arriving in greater numbers as the weather cools and this lovely fellow was perched over the water watching the sunrise. The light is beautiful in this photo but by this point the sun was getting a little bit in my eyes so it was a case of capturing what I could before moving on to the next hide.

I set up for the morning on one of my favourite hides and rested my elbows on the shelf in front of me. I was in it for the long haul but was regretting only wearing a t-shirt under my Autumn coat because my breath was whirling round me now clearly visible in the coolness of the morning.

My fingers clung to the camera and tentatively clicked a few times in quick succession to capture the drama unfolding in front of me while periodically pausing to warm my finger tips.

In front of the hide a confident male Canadian Goose rose from the water deeply rumbling this guttural sound I have never heard near his female companion who seemed unimpressed.

This commotion annoyed a swan that had been resting nearby and he woke from his slumber to chase the geese to one of the central islands while he patrolled the perimeter ensuring they stayed precisely where they were.

A visitor I am now seeing in greater numbers is the Curlew. Their iconic whooping call can be heard long before they are seen and they are often very obliging for photos. Often resting casually on one leg or perching on rocks in plain sight.

The Cormorants at this side of the wetlands had clearly spent their morning fishing and preening as they were now beautifully lined up on the edge of the central island expanding their vast wings into the sun.

Humans I find are always scrambling to adapt their wardrobes for the weather. We complain when it is too hot, grumble at the cold. In the Summer we long for the coolness of Winter and when it arrives we dream of those hotter days. Birds adapt to it all. They take it in their stride and always continue to thrive and survive whatever the weather.

I always enjoy seeing a range of birds at the Wetlands and as the morning turns into Afternoon the waterfowl return to rest while the smaller birds like Stonechat and Chaffinch emerge to feed upon the berries and flit between the Bullrushes.

I can quite happily sit for hours in the hides. That time in the morning is beautiful and serene. When you are alone in the hide with nature all around you, you are transported to a completely different place. Time sort of stands still for you for a brief moment.

As the morning became Afternoon I decided to pack up and depart for the day. The coolness has transformed into a beautiful warm Autumn Afternoon. The leaves are changing into burnt orange and red and the promise of Winter is just around the corner. I find myself looking forward to this passage of time where the jumpers come out and even in the shorter days a plethora of birds can still be seen and captured on film to treasure forever.

Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day everyone x