C4 Photo Hide Update

What a start to the photographic season in the C4 Hides at Mashatu Game Reserve. After scoping out a colony of White-fronted Bee-eaters hard at work digging away at the banks of the Majalie River, we rushed back to camp to collect the mobile hide. We gave the birds 2 days to get used to the big green ‘box-like’ object above their colony before setting off before sunrise to capture these beautifully coloured creatures in first light.

Unfortunately the morning was overcast, but this ended up working in our favour as we had more time to spend with the birds before the harsh light of the day kicked in. After 10mins of not one bird in sight and a slightly dampened faith that the colony had taken to us, the first bird arrived. Thereafter the performance continued until our batteries where dead and memory card where full up.

Being co-operative breeders the juvenile birds from the first clutches of the season, where hard at work digging holes and collecting food for their families within the colony. The juveniles make for perfect subjects as they are almost oblivious to the photographers and the tent, allowing the photographers to get close to them.

During the course of our action packed morning we had multiple visitors including, Laughing Dove, Meve’s Starling, African Hoopoe and Carmine Bee-eaters, not to forget mating White-fronted Bee-eaters!

White-fronted Bee-eater

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Mashatu Vlei - C4 Mobile Hide

 

After almost a month of no rain during our supposed ‘rainy season’ here at Mashatu Game Reserve, an interesting window of bird photography opportunity presented itself. The water in the vlei area of Mashatu, close to the Limpopo River had just enough volume to make for a perfect environment for a variety of waders.

On a game drive one day we drove past what looked like it would be an ideal spot to set up a mobile hide and test out what the waders had to offer us photographically. With the tent erected the afternoon before, we set off at 4am towards the vlei, the idea being to be ready and set up inside the tent before the waders began about their daily activities.

Unfortunately for us the sun decided to disappear behind thick cloud on the consecutive mornings of our attempt to capture the waders in first light. Nonetheless, despite the not ideal lighting conditions the waders still came to the party and this is what we managed to capture of them whilst lying on our bellies.

 Wherever you are situated in the world, it is always possible to seek out photographic opportunity whether it is a water bath in your backyard that attracts a certain bird or a staged macro scene of an interesting insect you came about in your flat. Get creative, keep shooting and you might be surprised with what you come out with!

 

Mobile tent (with a few adjustments) on the waters edge

 

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