Wildlife Photography across the Water: Marsh Harriers

Monday, 2 May 2011

Mini Trip Report pt 2 - RSPB Minsmere - Marsh Harrier v Water Vole

As promised in part 1, I said I would bring you Marsh Harrier in the next episode from Minsmere.

This part though focuses on just one short incident that we observed on Tuesday afternoon when I noticed a male MH flying in with prey.

Taking a series of approach shots, it was clearly a sizable prey and when I zoomed on the back screen of the 7D is was clear that it was a Water Vole. Which given their endangered status was quite sad really, but they are said to be doing well at Minsmere.

The male bird came in and landed on a pile of reed cuttings and eat about half of the Vole.

After a while he took off with the remaining bit of the Vole, flew across towards his female partner, who was nested down in the reedbed and called her up.

She took off and flew just behind and below him for a great view of a food pass. It was too far away to photograph but it was a great sight to witness.

I will bring you some closer MH shots in the next part of this trip report

Martin

Thursday, 16 April 2009

From the archives - Marsh Harriers at Minsmere

Now is a great time of year to get along to RSPB Minsmere and take a visit to either the Bittern or Island Hides to get some in flight shots of the Marsh Harriers.

I have been there for the last two years and have had some great views.

Best time is first thing so you can get some space in the hides and also to catch the early light.

If you are lucky then you will also get some great views of Bittern too - either flight shots from the Bittern Hide or ground shots from the Island Hide. I usually have some bright spark tell me that they had great views ten minutes previously.

On a good spring day it is easy enough to see up to 100 species in a full day. You can also get great close up pictures of Avocet and Swallows down by the Sluice - just sit on the ground by the posts and wait for them to come to you.

Minsmere really is the birders jewel in the crown and every photographer should get there at least once in their life, and now is the best time of the year

Martin

Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.