Early Morning on the River Usk.
04th August 2022
Yesterday morning I was up at 03.30 in readiness for a morning down on the River Usk in the Brecon Beacons. I had all my kit packed into my car the night before as per usual - no time for messing about that early. I only had one shredded wheat, (I wasn’t up to two that early), washed down with a small tea before I left. Outside there was a fine drizzle but that didn’t matter to me, my portable hide is waterproof and I have ‘Goretex’ covers for my kit. Driving this early the roads are empty, or so I thought, because suddenly there was a Tawny Owl sat on the road right in front of me – I braked hard to avoid hitting it and it flew up over my now stationary car and away into the trees – close call that one! Further on as I approached a local pub which is on the roadside I could now see a Barn Owl perched on the pub sign, it flew off as I approached giving good views. I began to wonder what I was going to see next.
I made my way down to the river in darkness where I erected my hide under some overhanging Willows this gives me cover and more shelter if it rains. I really like being on the river bank this early because you get to see and hear the wild life waking up. There was no bird sound whatsoever, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before the Kingfishers in particular would become active. They are about before it gets light, you can hear them calling to each other. I made sure I had everything under cover before settling down in my comfortable hide. True to form within ten minutes I could hear them ‘Peeping’ as they started to fly around, they can’t fish this early but they are nevertheless still active. A big plus for me is that there is no fishing allowed on the Usk at the moment because of the low water, so the chance of disturbance is minimal.
As daylight started to build and I could see the water eight Goosanders came idling up river and I took a few shots as they drifted past unaware of me.
I must have been well hidden because they are very wary birds. As the morning unfolded a Grey Heron walked right passed me.
Another extremely nervous bird oblivious to my hide. I had placed my hide looking at another group of Willows about thirty feet away, because a few days ago I had watched some Kingfishers perching underneath these willow branches and diving into a pool underneath. These birds like overhanging foliage, it shades the water allowing them to see the fish and in addition Kingfishers have polarizing vision so it makes their fishing even more effective.
I had also erected another perch there by tying a fallen branch to the others overhanging, not only for me to see the birds for a photo but for the birds to have better access to the water. After an hour three birds were flying around the area, two being chased by one. I guessed this was a parent bird trying to drive two youngsters away to find their own territory. Kingfishers are not good parents and are quite selfish. Then my planning paid off and an adult perched right on my new perch.
Notice the bird's orange feet denoting an adult, they will in time turn red.
Deliberately underexposed for effect.
I must have done something right. (You have to be careful you do not under any circumstances effect their routine by disturbing their fishing area). I took a few shots before it flew off again chasing the two youngsters. However, these young birds were persistent because now there was one of them sitting on my perch.
Smokey markings to the breast and dull smokey coloured feet - Juvenile.
Again deliberately underexposed for effect.
I took a few more shots before the chase started again.
I decided to leave them to it and when they had flown down river I exited my hide and moved it to another location where I had watched a Little Egret feeding earlier in the week. I knew where it would be, in the shallows underneath some dense overhanging Willows. I thought it would make a decent photo because the water under there looks black and with a snowy white bird like an Egret it would make a nice contrast. I could see the bird feeding about a hundred yards away but I knew it would be coming back because that’s what it had been doing all week - I have been watching it! I set my hide up again and waited, sure enough here it comes slowly but surely down to its favoured area of Willows. I waited until it was underneath and then I deliberately under exposed the shot to exemplify the black water and maintain the white colour of the bird.
This underexposing is a technique I often employ in this type of situation.
This Egret is standing in water although it doesn't look like it.
I waited for it to walk down river before I got out of my hide and eventually packed up. It turned out to be a very pleasant couple of hours with no one else around which is a bonus.
I made my way down to the river in darkness where I erected my hide under some overhanging Willows this gives me cover and more shelter if it rains. I really like being on the river bank this early because you get to see and hear the wild life waking up. There was no bird sound whatsoever, but I knew it wouldn’t be long before the Kingfishers in particular would become active. They are about before it gets light, you can hear them calling to each other. I made sure I had everything under cover before settling down in my comfortable hide. True to form within ten minutes I could hear them ‘Peeping’ as they started to fly around, they can’t fish this early but they are nevertheless still active. A big plus for me is that there is no fishing allowed on the Usk at the moment because of the low water, so the chance of disturbance is minimal.
As daylight started to build and I could see the water eight Goosanders came idling up river and I took a few shots as they drifted past unaware of me.
I must have been well hidden because they are very wary birds. As the morning unfolded a Grey Heron walked right passed me.
Another extremely nervous bird oblivious to my hide. I had placed my hide looking at another group of Willows about thirty feet away, because a few days ago I had watched some Kingfishers perching underneath these willow branches and diving into a pool underneath. These birds like overhanging foliage, it shades the water allowing them to see the fish and in addition Kingfishers have polarizing vision so it makes their fishing even more effective.
I had also erected another perch there by tying a fallen branch to the others overhanging, not only for me to see the birds for a photo but for the birds to have better access to the water. After an hour three birds were flying around the area, two being chased by one. I guessed this was a parent bird trying to drive two youngsters away to find their own territory. Kingfishers are not good parents and are quite selfish. Then my planning paid off and an adult perched right on my new perch.
Notice the bird's orange feet denoting an adult, they will in time turn red.
Deliberately underexposed for effect.
I must have done something right. (You have to be careful you do not under any circumstances effect their routine by disturbing their fishing area). I took a few shots before it flew off again chasing the two youngsters. However, these young birds were persistent because now there was one of them sitting on my perch.
Smokey markings to the breast and dull smokey coloured feet - Juvenile.
Again deliberately underexposed for effect.
I took a few more shots before the chase started again.
I decided to leave them to it and when they had flown down river I exited my hide and moved it to another location where I had watched a Little Egret feeding earlier in the week. I knew where it would be, in the shallows underneath some dense overhanging Willows. I thought it would make a decent photo because the water under there looks black and with a snowy white bird like an Egret it would make a nice contrast. I could see the bird feeding about a hundred yards away but I knew it would be coming back because that’s what it had been doing all week - I have been watching it! I set my hide up again and waited, sure enough here it comes slowly but surely down to its favoured area of Willows. I waited until it was underneath and then I deliberately under exposed the shot to exemplify the black water and maintain the white colour of the bird.
This underexposing is a technique I often employ in this type of situation.
This Egret is standing in water although it doesn't look like it.
I waited for it to walk down river before I got out of my hide and eventually packed up. It turned out to be a very pleasant couple of hours with no one else around which is a bonus.