Under Government guidelines, masks are not mandated in open spaces, meaning we are able to sever our relations with our closest friends for a while. The mask, even though performing marvellous miricles in preventing the contraction of the virus, can, after prolongued use, become like an annoying sibling- you still love them, but wish you could forget their presence. Kew Wakehurst is the perfect place to exercise this, with 500 hectares allowing the concentration of people and therefore the likelihood of transmission of the virus, to remain low.
Come not only for the picturesque plants. If examined closely, you will see narratives forming into the lives of the animals. Soon after we enter, we are greeted to the sight of lethargic birds sunbathing. After that, a swan tries to over take a duck and then they bicker over it, probably using the classic argument "Stay in your lane!" or "You're not driving, apologies, swimming straight!" Even after the duck swims off, wanting none of it, the swam follows, "kindly" offering advice on how to swim properly. The last I saw of it, the arrogant swan was still stalking the duck.
Forget man vs the wild!- Nature vs Nature is much more interesting. One crow even used its wings to gain the high ground over its opponent, another crow after the same piece of food , in a move straight out of Star Wars.
After tirelessly begging a pheasant to flutter its wings, it went one step further- it flew! However, this happened after I had set a timer on my camera, and missed this photo-op.
After seeing all that I had seen, I shall not be surprised if the uprising did not come from robots, but rather ducks- on water, they were able to maintain their formations tightly, and resembled an armada.
Not only was I able to observe the fauna, but I was also able to hone my intuitions about photography- using a fast shutter speed to capture birds mid-flight, but learning not increasing it to the extent that no light is captured. I must admit, I was quite reluctant to undertake wildlife photography, as I had the pre-conceived notion that it is too common, and "everybody does it and will do it," but I came to the realisation about why it was so popular.
Even the journey was not dull- A bird closed in on what it probably considered "street-meat" and trees nested the road we travelled through on either side. The coexistance of man-made structures, such as foot-bridges, and artifacts of nature, was breath-taking.
