On a recent Visit to Gilfach Farm in Wales my camera and lens came crashing down to the ground.

S---, that is going to cost I thought. After inspecting the damage the 500m f4 seemed ok and the mk4 just seemed to have some minor scuffs on it. I carried on thinking how lucky I had just been.

As the day progressed I became aware that the sound of the shutter had changed, (S--- I didn’t get away with it).  My camera was now living on borrowed time, at some point I would pay the price for my lack of attention.

That was on 28^th May this year and today it bit the dust, but not before I was able to get some more shots of the Grasshopper Warbler.

I returned home remove the Mk4 from the lens and replaced it with my backup, the 7D.

I checked the guarantee, that’s out of date, and anyway it was my fault, I phoned Lehmann’s to explain the problem.    It sounds like you have damage the mirror box they said.

I put the phone down and returned with the 7D to the site of the Grasshopper Warblers putting thoughts of the cost behind me.

When I arrived back on site the Grasshopper Warbler was having a preening session. It’s not often you get a chance to observe this behaviour. You’re lucky if you just see the bird.

More shots in the Grasshopper Warbler file