It was a typical spring evening at the beginning of May, and the weather was fine and clear. As someone who works a 9 to 5 in an office, Wednesday night is my designated “wildlife Wednesday,” where I make time to indulge in my passion for wildlife photography. So, my partner Annabeth and I decided to take a drive up to Longridge Fell, a local spot known for Cuckoo returning from migration.
As we arrived at the location, I took out my trusty Nikon z50, sigma 150-600m, and a 1.4 teleconverter, knowing I’d need the extra reach. The trees where the cuckoos have been reported were accessible but watching from quite a distance. We could hear the cuckoos straight away, but unfortunately, they were far away from us. We hoped they would fly closer so we could get a good shot.
After two hours and a full flask of tea, we finally saw a Cuckoo fly and land in a tree near us. We were ecstatic and felt like we had hit the jackpot. Witnessing this fascinating bird brought back childhood memories of hearing cuckoos, and we felt grateful to experience it once again.
Because of the long focal length and the strong winds, I chose a shutter speed that was over 1/2000s and an aperture of f9, making sure to get a decent depth of field. It was essential to have a steady hand and walls come in handy while taking the shot, and thankfully, all the elements came together perfectly. The wind was blowing a hooley so got my chunky Manfrotto 190 tripod out to help with the camera shake.
In the end, the evening was a huge success, and We felt grateful for the opportunity to capture this elusive bird in its natural habitat.
It was a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and how important it is to take the time to appreciate it.
So, if you ever have the chance to go out and enjoy wildlife photography, make sure to bring a flask of tea and a lot of patience – you never know what you might capture!
Till next time, keep exploring.
