Well written article Adam, and one that I'm sure anyone who has sat in the scrub can relate to, with ants crawling up their leg, mossies biting, but too afraid to move for fear of spooking that bird that you have been stalking for months.
C'mon little birdie, just turn your head a tad so I can get a catchlight.
And mostly the little devils pick a perch with the worst possible background, or everything is in perfect sync save for that little twig in the foreground.
I guess the challenge is what keeps us going back.
Good read Mate.
PS: And even though I've just acquired about 40Kg's of gear to pursue my new love, astro photography, birding is definitely not on the back burner as I find in my trip planning I'm thinking " Now if I get to the location late afternoon I may get some of the local bird-life before dark"