Last Monday I was driving down the entrance road of Elmley Marshes nature reserve. In the past I have taken some of my best wader shots along this road, but recently I’ve not had much luck there. That morning it was foggy when I arrived, with the sun starting to peak through, but I had nothing more than a flock of starlings. Then I spotted a bird perched on the frosty ground.
I could see it was a bird of prey, but as I got closer I realised it was the marsh harrier or kestrel I usually see along this road, it was in fact my first ever merlin! It let me get closer too, this is a crop from my 300mm
I went to move forward and get the sun behind me, when another car, the first I’d seen all morning, went flying past and spooked it. The amazing good luck that got me the photographic opportunity ran out pretty quickly! Still my first good shot of 2013, finally!
Those are beautiful shots fully worthy of such a fine bird. Great sighting!