Captured in the Snow: The beauty of the Comb-crested Jacana

This story began during my search for compelling, storytelling images when I decided to visit one of the local parks. Initially, there was nothing particularly exciting or unusual to photograph. It wasn’t until near the end of my walk, at the shallow end of the lake, that I noticed a stunning sight: a blanket of snowflakes covering the water like a pristine white carpet.

Whenever I come across flowers like these, I always aim to capture a bird amongst them, and this time, I was fortunate enough to have a live model to bring my idea to life – a Comb-crested Jacana. This bird is an intriguing species, typically quite skittish, but on this occasion, when it noticed me, it quickly ran to the edge of the lake, where I managed to capture a rare shot of it on the grass. This was a moment I don’t recall ever witnessing before, and a great achievement in itself.

To minimise my impact on the scene, I lay down and used my camouflage to blend in. While the bird remained aware of my presence, it was calm enough to relax and begin moving around. Gradually, I was able to inch closer to my vision of having the Jacana surrounded by the delicate snowflakes. Over the next two hours, I worked my way from the edge of the lake, getting progressively closer to the centre of the blooming carpet.

The results of my two-hour session are proudly shared below.

Comments

4 responses to “Captured in the Snow: The beauty of the Comb-crested Jacana”

  1. Katherine Clark Avatar
    Katherine Clark

    Beautiful shots and a beautiful story to go with it.
    Were the shots taken at Sandy Camp Rd? I have seen the jacanas there on those waterlines too.
    Kathy

    1. Alexander Babych Avatar

      Thanks for your comments, Kathy!

  2. Graham Bell Avatar
    Graham Bell

    Well done Alex. I admire your patience. Lovely images.

    1. Alexander Babych Avatar

      Feedback like yours is very important, Graham. Thank you so much!

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