It may come as a surprise, therefore, to many that birds and mammals still do not associate a motor vehicle with the presence of humans, and as a result a car may be used very successfully as a mobile hide. We rarely drive anywhere without taking our photographic equipment so that we can take advantage of any unexpected opportunities. Many Gulf residents own four-wheel-drive vehicles, which make very good hides and can get to most locations likely to produce good photographs.

Using long lenses from the car requires a sturdy support in order to eliminate the problem of camera shake which produces blurred pictures. There are various expensive commercially available supports, some of them costing several hundred dollars. We have found that a much less expensive option meets nearly all of our requirements. A simple bean bag provides an inexpensive and efficient method of supporting the long, heavy lenses so often needed for wildlife photography. Beanbags are easily made. Ours consists of a piece of the leg of a pair of denim jeans with a zip inserted. It can be emptied when travelling and filled with beans, rice or even sand on arrival at your destination. We usually have several different sizes available in the car to cope with all eventualities.

Many birds and mammals are not in the least disturbed by a slowly approaching car and will continue with their normal activities when you stop, provided you do not immediately push your camera lens through the open window. Local knowledge may enable you to know where your quarry is to be found regularly so that you can choose the time at which the lighting conditions are ideal, and you will also know how close you can approach and which lens you will need. If possible you should stop the car some distance from the site and prepare your equipment. Attach the appropriate lens to the camera body and check that you have enough film in the camera. All other accessories should be readily to hand. Roll the window down - even clean glass distorts the picture - and place the bean bag over the door frame. If this is not at the appropriate height to be comfortable you may need to raise the window a little. In this case you may find that the beanbag does not rest easily on the window. Any sort of improvised support which acts as a tray on which to rest the bag will do and this can be slotted over the glass of the window. Once in place the bag can easily be moulded to fit snugly around the lens, providing maximum support and holding it completely steady, thus eliminating camera shake.

With shy animals you may need to use some camouflage, although we have rarely found this necessary. This is easily arranged by cutting appropriate openings in a piece of cloth and shutting it into the doorframe.

Once the equipment is arranged drive slowly to the chosen position. The engine vibration makes it almost impossible to take photographs without resultant camera shake so you must now choose whether to switch off the engine a few yards short of the position and coast to a halt or to reach the place and then switch off the ignition. Some birds are quite content to continue their activities while the car engine is running, but as soon as it is switched off they will fly away. In this case it is better to turn off prior to arrival but you can only determine which is the better option by trial and error.

Once at your chosen location, keep still and conceal yourself as much as possible. Inclining the car seat backwards helps to break up your outline behind the door frame. Watch for a short while until the subject is at ease, then slowly rest the lens on the beanbag, taking care to bed the lens down into the bag so that it is 'rock-steady', keeping any movements as slow and quiet as possible. You will be pleasantly surprised to find that once you have set up your equipment in this way most animals and birds will begin to tolerate your presence and may even become inquisitive and move closer allowing opportunities for fine close-ups.