Magical moments

[poledark]

Fishing again today, foul weather, snow, sleet, rain. Set the brolly up in one of the dugouts and cast out.

 

Along comes my friend the Robin, chucked him a bit of bread.

 

Later on the bailiff Des comes by; Des is almost 80 yet comes sround in all weathers, so I invite him under the brolly.

 

Now I have been trying to get the Robin to take food from my hand without success, but as it sat on the wall beside us, I put a bit of bread in Des' gloved hand, and the Robin swooped in and took it..............magic!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Des was delighted..and so was I (a bit miffed and jealous) but really pleased for him.

 

Later on Hazel comes to pick up Barney dog, I tell her about Des and the Robin, and we decide it must be the gloves...Hazel is wearing gloves and so we decide to give it a try and "blow me down" the Robin comes down and takes the bread from her hand.

 

She goes off with the dog and I am left sulking that the Robin won't come to my hand...but I try again...eureka!! straight down, no hesitation, obviously trusts me now. Several bits of bread later I start to think about getting some pics

 

Tried various methods and was always to late, so I got the book out and tried "ultra HS".

 

First successful shots..high speed 30fps up to 3seconds, start shooting as the bird swoops and gotcha!

 

Here is one of the shots, just before taking the bread.

 

 

Den

Edited February 21, 2006 by poledark

[The Flying Tench]

Target achieved! Better than a fish, I guess. Congratulations!

[John S]

Good photo Dan, shots of birds in flight are always tricky, especially one-handed!

[Guest Ferret1959]

Nice one Den, thats brilliant.

 

I was watching our fox at 4 this morning as she tripped the security light but if I went to get the camera she'd be gone.

One day I'll shoot her.

[BoozleBear]

Well done Den, fantastic picture. Must have been a nice buzz too.

 

Did you catch any fish mate?

[Paul_D]

Nice tale and pics Den, thanks!

[poledark]

No fish BB, but who cares? I was going to give it a miss today, raining and cold and another day on my own...but...Hazel said "you have got to go, who will feed the Robin"

 

So I dragged myself down the lake and fed the Robin, came straight to my hand every time.

 

A bloke came for a chat and the Robin took some from his hand as well. That's 4 of us happy now

 

The older I get, the softer I get,

 

Den

[chesters1]

try using a mealworm Den (from pet shops) robins even wild ones will tear your arm off to get one ,its just a matter of sitting still with one on your outstretched hand

our garden one sleeps in the car if we leave the window open but has on seeing us approach left a little "present" on the head rest on leaving

my biggest bit of magic was walking back up the field with the dogs ,i spotted a sparrow hawk sitting on a post fence ,it dived down now and again for worms (must have been hungry) i called the dogs to heel and walked past about 20 feet away

i took the kids down the field to see it and was surprised it made no attempt to fly off as we aproached

i crept closer and stunningly it let me pick it up

i let the kids stroke it and put it back it was totally unflustered

we left it sitting there

it was most certainly tame but had no rings and i suppose eating worms was easier to do than catch birds if it hadent had to in the past

Edited February 22, 2006 by chesters1