Vivian Darkbloom
Well-known member
Returned to Cley for two weeks annual holiday after a year's absence. Immediately noticed the change in the profile and behaviour of those in the Cley Reserve hides.
There were far fewer birders with scopes and bins and far more photographers with large lenses covered with camouflage.
Whenever a promising bird came into view all hell broke out, with the sound of excited photographers clicking away becoming increasingly frenetic.
To exaggerate somewhat; It must have been like hearing the sound of the machine guns on the first day of the Somme.
Most of the people there adopted a similar approach; random bursts were directed in the general direction of a bird hoping that if enough shots were fired something worthwhile might be produced.
The quiet contemplation which I was hoping to achieve in the company of like minded birders is presumably gone for ever. Another casualty of the digital age.
There were far fewer birders with scopes and bins and far more photographers with large lenses covered with camouflage.
Whenever a promising bird came into view all hell broke out, with the sound of excited photographers clicking away becoming increasingly frenetic.
To exaggerate somewhat; It must have been like hearing the sound of the machine guns on the first day of the Somme.
Most of the people there adopted a similar approach; random bursts were directed in the general direction of a bird hoping that if enough shots were fired something worthwhile might be produced.
The quiet contemplation which I was hoping to achieve in the company of like minded birders is presumably gone for ever. Another casualty of the digital age.