High profile celebrities such as Siena Miller, JK Rowling and Hugh Grant may have grabbed the headlines with their appearances at Lord Leveson's inquiry into standards in the press, but next week - in an unprecedented move - a flock of birds will share their experiences at the hands of the craparazzi.
The avian witnesses are a flock of Snow Buntings that regularly overwinter at a beach near Rhyl in North Wales. In recent years they have been relentlessly hounded by a small group of photographers, making their lives a living hell.,
One of the group - who are now holed-up at at a secret coastal location after being chased up and down the beach last weekend - commented:
"When we first arrive things are generally okay, but as soon as the word gets out that we have returned all hell breakes loose."
"..you think Siena Miller has problems, but we no more than she'll ever know about bring relentlessly pursued by a group of weird male fetishists with cameras.."
Another added:
"We were hoping to bargain with them and maybe arrange one weekend when we strike a few poses (you know, a few of us playing poker or pool etc) and in return we then get left in peace. But it's hopless, they just can't help themselves and we just don't understand what they want. What did Einstein say was the definition of stupidity...doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results? I think that pretty much sums them all up, however I was caught with a rather wistful look last weekend and I've never done that before."
Until later.
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Oh, here we go - having a go at us happy snappers again. Just because we don't know the difference between a little egret and a great white, or a yellow legged gull and a lesser black backed, or for that matter a song thrush and mistle doesn't mean we don't practice fieldcraft - I personally sat a whole 4 foot from the seeded log on Kinmel Bay beach, so you can't blame me for their vanishing act.
ReplyDeleteThe Blue Badger
Right on the mark again Paul- i have recently taken up photography and enjoy taking the camera out with me but first and foremost i go out to do some birding and if one of the birds happens to come within range of the camera i'll do my best to photograph it; but that is why i have bins and a scope so that i can watch the birds without disturbing them or worrying about having to get right up close for that perfect shot.
ReplyDeleteI have witnessed some photographers in a hide making a noise or throwing pebbles out in order to get a shot of birds taking off whilst we birders looked on in disgust- said individual was duly sent packing!
Not all photographers are the same but it does appear to be getting out of hand- possiblly only having a photo as concrete proof of a sighting doesn't help the cause.
Dan
Dan - if I could afford too, I'd probably do a little digiscoping. As you have said, it's the poor behaviour rather than photography per se that is the problem.
ReplyDeleteI think the same issues exist at twitches (Richard's Pipit @ Leasowe) too - that's why I have all but given up going to see rarities, I can't ever recall one being a remotely enjoyable experience.
Paul.
My personal experience of Twitchers has not been very positive- remember years ago i was out walking the dog on the rocks at Oakenholt Marsh and saw a large group of Twitchers pointing their scopes over the grass.
ReplyDeleteI politely asked what they were watching and was rudely informed that it had nothing to do with me as i wouldn't know what it was- cheeky bastards talking to me like that on my local patch so i let the dog off the lead and sent him out in front of the scopes and bird was duly flushed and vanished- probably not the best idea i've ever had but the look on their faces was priceless as i walked away.
Never did find out what it was they had come to see!