Hello and welcome, time to buckle in. I’ve got a cracking good yarn to spin. Picture this: a gloriously sunny Saturday, and my partner Annabeth, armed with a backpack full of curiosity for a touch of cinematic history, insists on a trek up Malham Cove.
You know the spot, that grand limestone formation in North Yorkshire where Harry Potter once donned an invisibility cloak and strolled about. You might think it was a bit ambitious for a bird lover like me, especially since it was to be more of a movie location pilgrimage than a bird watching excursion. But me, always the optimist, I had my camera gear stowed in my rucksack. You never know when you’ll spot a feathered friend, after all.
Did I mention the 430 steps? Oh, mercy, those 430 steps. As I was halfway up, I nearly felt like turning myself into a human Slinky, descending with comedic grace.
My gear – a Nikon Z50 and a Sigma 150-600c lens, complete with a 1.4 Teleconvertor – felt like I’d stowed a few bricks. But a photographer’s got to do what a photographer’s got to do.
So there we were, at the foot of this sheer cliff face, panting, giggling, and cursing under our breath. There’s a little copse of trees there, and just as I was wondering how many more stairs could be in my future, I spied a cheeky Redstart flitting about. Been there, snapped that, you might think. But hey, every bird deserves its paparazzi moment. As I’m setting up my shot, who do you think decides to grace us with their presence? The Spotted Flycatcher!
Now, let me tell you, this was no small event. The Spotted Flycatcher was the last of the Flycatchers on my list to photograph. And there it was, boldly taking center stage next to its flashy Redstart neighbour. My heart was pounding like a drumline.
Being a sprightly, flitting creature, this Flycatcher wasn’t making my task easy. But luck was on my side that day, and our little diva of a bird kept returning to its preferred perch. Snapping away with a fast shutter speed of over 1/2500s, and an aperture between f7.2 and f8, the sunny day allowed me to keep the ISO low. With each click, I could feel the shot coming together, a blend of patience, anticipation, and an awful lot of excitement.
And there it was, the perfect photo. A stunning shot of a Spotted Flycatcher, its delicate features all in focus, its character captured in a split second of shutter release. Worth every step, I’d say.
Did you know that Spotted Flycatchers are a bit of a rare sighting these days in the UK? Unfortunately, these magnificent birds have seen a severe decline in the past few decades, making every sighting a special encounter. They typically prefer open woodlands and are migratory, spending their winters in Africa and returning to the UK in the spring. The next time you spot one, give it a friendly nod from me, will you?
So, there you have it, a normal day turned into an exhilarating bird sighting extravaganza! And the lesson? Always bring your camera, no matter where you’re headed. You never know what feathery surprises await!”
