Following the thread of Perch Isolation on a new spool, I previously neglected to suggest that there is a naturally occurring perch that offers perfect isolation and it is present around the perimeter of most of our waterfront parks. The crest horizon of the boulders along a spit may provide a convenient perch for birds and it presents little obstacle to the photographer. The background water will be either out-of-focus or sufficiently distorted to create a piquant effect in a photograph. I've attached a few examples of aqua scena. Indeed, even a conventional perch might fall into line at being both well isolated and fortuitously located for aqua scena. I'll attach an example of that as well.
Breeding Spotted Sandpiper taken at the point of Ashbridges spit. If you do not peer over the rocks you will fail to discover what lurks there.
Breeding Semipalmated Sandpiper separated from the rowdy flock (don't ask) chose a choice rock to perch on. I wasn't going to let that opportunity slip away. Taken at Sam Smith.
A flock of Dunlin were circling the spit at Sam Smith appraising the rocks for a suitable resting place. Being creatures of habit I knew they would eventually settle somewhere along the rocks.
There were no birds at the extreme western point so I tried Whimbrel Point and there they were muttering and peeping to each other like school children at recess. I climbed down closer to the water around the event horizon and out-of-sight. Rock by rock, inch by inch I approached in the most laissez-faire non-threatening manner. Avoiding eye contact until I finally turned with camera obscuring my face and captured the moment. Those rocks offered excellent perch isolation.
Breeding Ruddy Turnstone strenuously engaged in trying to turn that mighty rock. I took advantage of their collective and futile efforts as a distraction for my approach. They gave up the Herculean task and turned to lesser travail.
Golden-crowned Kinglet near a pond and spending much of its precious time close to the ground where I also photographed it. Some of the twigs were isolated and one in particular caught my eye. I focused on it and waited as the kinglet approached at close to that level. Sure enough the anticipation paid off. It presided there only a moment but that's all I needed.
