Hideout

Don't you just love a bird hide? The anticipation as you click the latch. The musty wooden smell and the dark (see extra). Then, as you unclip the letterbox shape flaps and swing them upwards on their hinges, you can peep out on a world of unaware birds. Wading, paddling, flying in the wind, bobbing in the water.

In my case I haven't got much clue as to what I am looking at but it doesn't seem to matter. After a few minutes of gazing you shut down the hatches and carry on your way. In this case a fantastic walk around the Newtown estuary on the Isle of Wight. The storm is brewing but it's OK here. 
On leaving there was a bonus of an explanatory chat with a charming young woman from a bird awareness organisation who pointed out to us what was what out there on the mud.

A second extra in mono of the estuary landscape.