Exploring
Following the track through the trees, clutching my camera and watching the dogs, I feel the familiar draw of nature as I venture deeper into the woods.
The Sun offers little warmth at this time of year, barely brushing the tops of the trees as the day passes, its pale light watery against the grey sky.
A robin spots our party and retreats into the holly, scolding us for the intrusion to its territory. Another movement catches my eye and I recognise the orangey brown legs of a dunnock which is working its way around the empty branches of a bramble bush. Pausing, I raise the camera to shoulder height, and fire a series of shots. The dunnock pauses to look at me before, unperturbed, continuing its exploration around the base of the bush.
Knowing the command “sshhhh, quiet”, the dogs sit at my side, waiting patiently until I release them from the hold. The dunnock has disappeared and, as the Sun begins to sink more quickly behind the trees, I decide it’s time to begin our return journey to the car. I could spend all day exploring outside but there is work to be done in the office at home.
Experience has taught me never to disassemble the camera prematurely, and, grasping the telephoto lens securely, I rest the body on my shoulder as we walk. My decision is rewarded when we emerge from the trees to see a grey heron rise from the river and fly towards us. Such a graceful bird in flight, I often see them in this area but am still mesmerised watching their slow, deliberate, wing movements as they fly. With a wingspan of almost the same length as that of a golden eagle, they are impressive birds to behold.
Homeward bound, I turn my thoughts to the remainder of the day. The ‘to-do’ list is ever-increasing and my learning trajectory is beginning to resemble an x2 curve. Steep and growing increasingly steeper.
