The name of Shenton Safaris is held in high esteem by wildlife photographers, and with good reason. Derek Shenton, ably supported by wife Jules, has constructed a series of hides from which to view the spectacular wildlife around Kaingo Camp in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. One hide for elephant crossing the river, one for hippo (described by the BBC Planet Earth cameraman as the best hide he's ever sat in for a week!) and one for the annual Carmine bee eater nesting season. And Derek has done a magnificent job.
Each year, large numbers of Carmines fly in to reclaim the nest holes drilled into the mud, sand and rock on the banks of the Luangwa river. They perch in their thousands on the twigs and walls of the river bank...just about 10 feet from the front of Derek's water-based hide. Not half bad.
They're nervy, aggressive little birds, constantly squabbling over territory and taking flight at the slightest loud noise or threatening shadow. So a hide is a must if you're going to get near them.
This aggressive trait is fantastic for photography, though, as it means that there is a constant barrage of pinwheeling bundles of vivid red and blue feathers and stabbing beaks, all flying inches from the camera lens.
The difficulty is trying to anticipate or keep up with their lightning fast movements. As you'd expect, a bird that specialises in grabbing bees and insects directly from the air is both swift and maneuverable.
