Being an early riser or an insomniac (I get very little sleep), call it what you will, can have benefits and drawbacks. As a photographer, getting up either before or at the crack of dawn is something I love. If I’m not going out, I can sit and watch the sunrise and enjoy the dawn chorus. Usually, though, I’m on the computer either processing photos or updating websites before the day starts.
This morning I wanted to be out and about taking photos. I had an urge, something I’ve not had for so long. I needed to be out and about. After dressing and grabbing a camera and a lens, I headed out the door to the car. That’s all I took—a camera and one lens. I was going to have to work for the photos I got, if I got any.
In the car, I ran through places to go with no planning involved. This is the photography I prefer. Grab the gear and go anywhere. I decided to visit Forest Farm Nature Reserve in Cardiff (not having a great deal of petrol in the car and no petrol stations open helped me decide).
I like Forest Farm. I’d lived in Wales for 31 years before my first visit, and I think I’ve made up for that now. It was a little before 06:00 when I pulled up and gathered my camera and tripod.
Making my way slowly along the path that runs alongside the Melingruffydd. Treading quietly so as not to disturb wildlife. That’s easier said than done when you’re 6′ 2″ and weigh around 20 stone (280 lbs), have an unsteady gait (due to a neurological condition), and have a broken toe.
As I walked on, I spotted a Heron in the middle of the Melingruffydd, patiently waiting for his breakfast to pass by. No matter where I looked, I couldn’t get a clear shot of him, and he soon spotted me and flew off. Carrying on, I made my way to the first hide.
As I was about to enter the hide, I was startled by a wood pigeon that flew out of the door in front of me. I’m not ashamed to say I nearly screamed like a girl (no offence meant). A quick scan around, and it was plain to see that the Kingfisher was notable by its absence. However, a young rabbit was sitting there happily chewing on his breakfast. It was quite happy to pose for my camera.
After waiting for what seemed like an age but was only about fifteen minutes, I left and made my way to Hide 2 (Cliff Hide). I opened the gate at the entrance to see the arse end of a fox dissipate through the hedgerow. Gingerly, I made my way into the hide in case the attack pidgeon was lurking in there. I scanned the pond ahead of me; there were no kingfishers here either. Oh well.
As my eyes travelled back across the pond, I noticed a splash of colour on the branch to my left. Sure enough, there was an adult Kingfisher sitting there. While quietly setting up my tripod, I focused my camera on him and started shooting (photographing) him/her. I’m not a nature photographer; I don’t have the extra-long lenses that nature photographers possess. I was using my Sigma APO 70-200mm F/2.8 coupled to my Nikon Z 5 through an FTZ adaptor, any photographs that I did manage to get were going to have to be heavily cropped.
If I’m doing more of this type of photography, I need to invest in a longer lens, either a Sigma 150–600mm or a Sigma 60–600mm. Either of them will also come in handy for shooting any more rugby matches I may choose to do.
After firing off some shots, the Kingfisher flew off to my right. When I spotted it again, I was delighted to see that it had joined a juvenile kingfisher on another branch. The two of them sat there for a while before the youngster flew off, leaving the adult alone, before he also flew off.
After the Kingfishers had flown off, I made my way to the canal, or what remains of the old Glamorganshire Canal that it is. I’m a lifelong angler, and being near water relaxes me. It helps to soothe my mind and calm my Bipolar Disorder. I shot some photos before returning to hide one on the off chance that there would be a kingfisher there.
As I crept in as quietly as I could for someone my size, I saw a heron perched on this tiny branch. I tried as hard as I could to be quiet when extending my tripod, but he heard me and took to the wing. I wasn’t too disappointed; I was lucky to have gotten as close to it as I did. After that encounter, I headed home.