On a recent visit to Rhino Safari Camp in the stunning Matusadonha National Park I was pottering around one of the multitude of quite bays that fringe the island when I came across a Goliath Heron going about his early morning fishing routine; flitting from spot to spot looking for the biggest catch.
The largest of the Heron family, the Goliath is a beautiful bird and thus I was very keen to get a few pictures of this chap and his morning routine so I slowly and quietly eased myself into a position where I had a good view of him hoping he would move towards me so the early morning light would catch him at the right angle and light up his beautiful feather markings.
After a few moments of blissful silence and serene observation he started moving, to my dismay, away from me and out of the bay towards the open water. Disappointed but still keen for a picture of this large bird in flight I lined up and waited patiently for him to spread his wings and head out.
Almost on queue the magnificent bird, with wings outstretched began hi pre-flight check when all of a sudden in a blur of sharp claws and unrestrained anger a nearby previously peaceful Fish Eagle had taken some deep exception to the presence of the Goliath and decided to see him off! Obliviously unawares of this potential all I saw through the view-frame was a blur of motion in from the top right and the indignant sqwuake of the Goliath as it headed out, feathers abruptly ruffled!
Thankfully, due mostly to reaction than anything else I managed to squeeze off a few shots of the action before I even knew what was going on, which brings us on to this months bit of pearly advise; plan and expect for everything and when it happens when you are off guard don't hesitate to hold your finger down on the shutter button, you may end up with some stunning results!