Hide etiquette

Another day, another reserve. Today I went to Stodmarsh, again for the first time, and it is stunning. It's daft that I've not been before as I used to live a good deal closer to it - Stodmarsh is just outside Canterbury. The village itself is one of those beautiful little places tucked away from main roads and it has a charming church and a charming pub. It's near Grove Ferry which is so lovely if you look at it too much you'll go into a sugar-induced coma.

The reserve includes the largest area of reed beds in the south of England and sitting in the hide it was lovely watching the breeze move the heads of the reeds. There were plenty of birds to see too including a hobby and a couple of marsh harriers.

And here's the thing. There are some rules about how to behave in a hide. Or there are if I'm in the hide anyway.

It's fine to say "hello" when you come in.

It's even permissible to say something about the weather.

But then please shut up.

Right up.

Don't ask me if "there's much about"

Don't ask me if I've seen a such-and-such.

Just look out of the window and stay quiet.

He got the message after a while but then we were joined by a trio of folk of whom one was that real gem; "an expert". For the benefit of the others, including me I suppose, he started pointing out interesting birds.

"Over to the left is a partial doggerel; see it climbing above the hedge?" and "Does that look like a flange ouzeler over by the large poplar?". In fairness he spotted the hobby so that was a result but he was so late on the marsh harrier that he'd missed a good five minutes of it hunting over the beds. I have a feeling that this bloke was a proper guide and he was showing this couple around. He mentioned that they'd just been along the river watching the hobbies.

Now for the one or two who might not be familiar with the avian species of the south east I should mention that a marsh harrier is a big bit of kit. It's the largest harrier in Europe and beautiful to watch but my lens isn't up to getting a good capture unless the thing came and perched a lot closer to me then it or I might feel comfortable. These guys make arm-breaking swans look like wimps. By the way, the Latin name for a hobby is Falco subbuteo so that's worth a boyish giggle isn't it? (Probably have to be may age to find that something like funny). Anyway - the main thrust here is that if you find yourself in a hide with me please recognise that if I wanted to talk to someone I'd be a pub or Tesco or something. Birdwatching is about peace and quiet. That okay?

The flowers are iris pseudacorus. I hope you like them.