Birdwatching at the Wetlands: A Morning in the Hide

Ugh, my hands are absolutely freezing!

Shh, keep your voice down. Sound carries over water.

Oh, sorry! I forgot we're meant to whisper.

Here, have some tea from my flask. It'll warm you up.

Lovely, thanks. So this little wooden hut is the hide?

That's right. Let's open the viewing slot, nice and slowly.

Wow! The whole wetland is wrapped in mist!

Beautiful, isn't it? The reed beds stretch right to the river.

And what about all that grey mud beyond them?

Mudflats. They're uncovered when the tide goes out.

Oh! There's a huge grey bird by the reeds!

That's a grey heron. It's been standing there for ages.

Why isn't it moving? Is it asleep?

Not at all. It's waiting for a fish to swim past.

Then it strikes like lightning with that dagger of a beak.

Wow, talk about patience! I could never stay that still.

Um... it's been twenty minutes, and nothing's happened.

Honestly, I thought there'd be more to see.

Ha, birdwatching is mostly waiting, I'm afraid.

Keep your eyes on that branch over the water.

Ugh, that dead branch? Nothing ever lands there.

There! Did you see that flash of blue?

What on earth was that? It looked like a jewel!

A kingfisher! Look, it's perched on the branch now!

Look at that orange chest! It's absolutely stunning!

They dive headfirst into the water to catch tiny fish.

It's diving! Oh, it's caught something!

A little fish. Breakfast is served!

Ugh, and I missed the photo completely!

Never mind. Some moments are better seen than photographed.

Well... you're right. I'll remember it anyway.

So, has the cold put you off for good?

Are you kidding? I'm completely hooked now!

Can we come back next weekend? Same hide?

Only if you bring your own gloves this time.

Deal! And a bigger flask of tea.