You can't always get what you want

The Rolling Stones might not have had in mind nature photography when they wrote the song, but it is certainly true when you go out expecting to get a specific shot.

What was I hoping to see?

Great crested grebes on a local pond that I have seen consistently there for the last couple of years. I was hopeful of perhaps spotting them with some little humbugs in tow. The weather was perfect, a bright morning with the sun still just rising over the trees. Perfect.

Except of course, not a single grebe in sight, in fact hardly anything at all. The only pond dweller was a coot, and the only thing that really caught my eye was a cormorant. Which promptly flew off providing what would be the only opportunities of the morning.

What it did give me, much like the song, was what I needed. I have been meaning to test the tracking capabilities of the E-M1X. Never sure that E-M1X can keep up with birds in flight (compared to my OM1 or even Pentax K3iii) I was pleasantly surprised. Normally I simply would not have bothered, I would reach for the OM1 with 300mm pro lens, but for once it was in the bag and I didn't have time.

So whilst I didn't get the shots I wanted, I did learn something that I needed know!