Change in plan

There was a change in plan today. I went out early to hopefully catch more pictures of flying White-throated Dippers.

When I arrived at the site I actually couldn’t find the Dippers at the usually stretch. They tend to use a particular stretch of Säveån, but today they weren’t there. I saw that the water had risen more and this might be the reason I thought.

I could of course not give up that easily so I continued to search for them. This time nearer Jonsered. This short hike changed my plan for the day completely. I discovered a clearing in which two European Robins and two Eurasian Wrens foraged. They searched for food, drank and took a bath in the small patch of open water.

No Dippers, but Robins and Wrens instead

So, I stopped there as I hadn’t found Dippers and just sat still and waited for the birds to come to me. This type of waiting game can bring you good results and it will give you more pictures than if you try and sneak up to the birds. The surely knew I was there and accepted me as long as I sat fairly still without making sudden motion. The birds got really close to me at times and even sneak up behind me a couple of times.

The setting wasn’t clean in any way so these pictures won’t end up in my bird portfolio. Still I think the result turned out nice even if I would have liked to get a better end product.

Now this change in plan actually made me discover the White-throated Dipper after some time as they had moved down to the stretch of water that I thought. One individual landed just in front of me and I could crawl up to it at a later stage when I saw it sitting on a stone singing. I actually think they are preparing for the breeding season as I recognized some of their behavior as a mating display. I suspect that this also were the reasons why they didn’t search for food as they had other things on their minds.

It was a good, and cold, trip even if I couldn’t work with my project this day. I might give it another try during the weekend.

Please enjoy the gallery.