From the Field

January 2010 - cattle fodder

I doubt that I could have put a more appropriate header at the top of this page. When the weather is hard, the wildlife photographer has an easy time finding his subjects. The bird tables are full, the hares and partridges sitting brown and exposed in the snow-covered fields and all the kingfishers are on the rivers because the lakes and canals are frozen solid. Most farmers keep their animals indoors during the winter around here, but Laurence knew of a herd locally that were still out and about in the field. Heavy thickset, inquisitive , sturdy animals they were too and where the farmer fed them we knew that birds would gather, so off we went, mummified in heavy fleeces and windproof clothing to see what we could get.

Wildlife photography is all about problems and how you overcome them. This is never more apparent than when you are working in the field rather than from a public hide on a nature reserve. True you stand a better chance of getting the light in the right place, but what do you do when the only cover in reach of the cattle troughs is a makeshift pen, constructed from cold, grey, galvanised farm gates. Well obviously you shut yourself inside to keep the cattle off of your gear, and of course you sit in lots and lots of frozen, but still smelly, stuff that the previous occupants kindly left for you. We think it was worth it though and we certainly saw life from a different perspective.

For a long time the cattle were a mixed blessing. They all stood right in front of the lens, saliva drooling over our expensive gear and once or twice, rapid retreats were a sensible precaution when they turned their backs to us and we weren’t sure what might be coming our way next, but there was no malice in them. They liked having their ears scratched and chewing the camo off of Laurence’s tripod, but they were great cover.

Quite a few species came in among their feet to feed and I was lucky enough to get my first half-decent redwing and fieldfare shots, but it was the meadow pipits that made my day. I had never been so close to them before and was pleasantly surprised, as I so often am, by the subtle colours and beautiful tones of an apparently dull and insignificant bird.

The field fares and the redwings were particularly keen to get onto the ground where the cattle had been resting and as soon as they got up to go for a wander, several birds would appear immediately to see what the heat from their bodies had brought to the surface.

Last word on the day has to go to this pied wagtail which, having spent the whole day scuttling about among the hooves, came and took a break in the last rays of the evening sun. He came and sat  in the snow right  in front of me for a few minutes and then he was back on his feet stoking up for another  freezing night ahead.

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