A flooded Llangors Lake and the elusive Cettis Warbler.
10th January 2014
The appalling spell of weather we have been enduring over the last few weeks has caused massive flooding of the nearby Llangors Lake. The whole reedbed has become totally waterlogged forcing birds like Water Rail to flee into the nearby Llangasty woods. These woods are themselves under water but there is some vegetation that is above the water, which allows the birds to feed and roost. Many ducks have now taken refuge on the lake because they can't stay on the River Usk, (their normal habitat), because it is a raging torrent. A Kingfisher is also trying to fish the lake for the same reasons, yesterday I saw it perched underneath the walkway to the new hide, trying to fish the only shallow water available, times are hard for them.
However, there is one bird that is extremely elusive to see under any circumstances and that is the Cettis Warbler. These little birds are unbelievably noisy, they have a very loud and explosive song yet they remain notoriously difficult to see let alone photograph.
This current flooding though has turned the tables somewhat in favour of the bird watcher. Normally Cettis spend almost all of their time skulking at the bottom of reedbeds and low bushes, they then infrequently show themselves for a few seconds before quickly disappearing again. They rarely keep still for more than a second or two as they constantly move from reed to reed foraging for food. This flood has changed all that, they can no longer move at the bottom of the reedbed, they have to feed higher up and this means they can be seen more easily.
I have waited for such an opportunity to present itself and yesterday I could see a Cettis moving about among the reeds and I could see it gradually getting higher up the stems looking for food. There is a fence rail which runs around its usual habitat and this fence provides easy access to a few clumps of grass that have grown in amongst some bushes. I could see the Cettis making its way towards this rail, I had a feeling it was going to move along it to get to the grassy area so I focused my lens on the rail just before this grassy area. Sure enough it came along probing every bit of vegetation on its way, I waited until it was still for about two seconds and then I fired the shutter. I had a couple of shots at least before it disappeared again, this happened twice before it disappeared totally.
Please see UK Birds, Warblers.
However, there is one bird that is extremely elusive to see under any circumstances and that is the Cettis Warbler. These little birds are unbelievably noisy, they have a very loud and explosive song yet they remain notoriously difficult to see let alone photograph.
This current flooding though has turned the tables somewhat in favour of the bird watcher. Normally Cettis spend almost all of their time skulking at the bottom of reedbeds and low bushes, they then infrequently show themselves for a few seconds before quickly disappearing again. They rarely keep still for more than a second or two as they constantly move from reed to reed foraging for food. This flood has changed all that, they can no longer move at the bottom of the reedbed, they have to feed higher up and this means they can be seen more easily.
I have waited for such an opportunity to present itself and yesterday I could see a Cettis moving about among the reeds and I could see it gradually getting higher up the stems looking for food. There is a fence rail which runs around its usual habitat and this fence provides easy access to a few clumps of grass that have grown in amongst some bushes. I could see the Cettis making its way towards this rail, I had a feeling it was going to move along it to get to the grassy area so I focused my lens on the rail just before this grassy area. Sure enough it came along probing every bit of vegetation on its way, I waited until it was still for about two seconds and then I fired the shutter. I had a couple of shots at least before it disappeared again, this happened twice before it disappeared totally.
Please see UK Birds, Warblers.