WildBird

Found: One Holy Grail

Found: One Holy Grail By N. Cornwell I finally found my Holy Grail. I took no less than 81 pictures of birds in one bout of photography. A lot of the pictures were keepers. I don’t know what happened. In scientific terms, I think the clouds parted just enough for my camera to work properly. But it was more than that. On my first gull outing, we (Grandma, my brother Jacob and I) couldn’t get within 15 meters of the gulls. This time I set down the tripod in a strategic area and waited. I snapped a few long-range photographs, then the gulls started working back towards me. I got some pictures of a Mew gull preening. Not just repairing a few feathers, but the whole works. Then a group of Ring-Billed Gulls moved within 6 meters. I was able to get a few close-up photos when a splashing noise startled me. I turned slowly to look. It was a Ring-Billed drinking, too close for the ’scope to focus on. I turned towards a huge puddle to my left and found another gull preening. As I watched (and photographed) the gull, (a Ring-Billed) it began to take a splash bath! I was able to get a keeper of him splashing and even afterwards when he preened himself. By this time, I had undergone several stages of cold. It was about 40 degrees out. The first level I defied easily, minor discomfort. The next stage I ignored also, cold fingers. Next came really cold fingers which I almost ignored. But when my entire torso spasmed and I started shivering, I figgered it was about time to go home. I found my Holy Grail. Now I just need a new one.

WildBird on the Fly!
Check out Editor Amy K. Hooper's random dispatches from afield and at home.

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