We all do it at times and then kick ourselves in the butt every time it happens...
I got out yesterday for the morning to one of my favorite ponds to watch some goose and duck activity. I crawled out of bed, checked the temp and the forecast and packed up. Looking at my camera case I pondered for a second then decided what the hell I'm shooting ducks and geese and I got a 3km hike one way to get to the pond with no intersting encounters ever on the way to even make me consider carrying a second camera or lens so Im just gonna take 1 camera and my trusty 100-400 lens.
I get the the pond, settle in just watching for some time trying to see whats going on, figure out what may be approachable and what would be a waiste of time, sun angles, and wind direction to set up for landings and takeoffs. This normally takes me about 1 hour durning which time I seldom if ever pic up the camera.
Being at the watching the duck stage which were about 40 meters or so away from me I wasn't paying close attention to the bank near me or at my feet. I happened to glance down for some reason and there were 2 muskrats within 2 feet of my foot swimming to their den which was litterally right under me dragging a branch for their winter food store. The light was perfect, they stopped just outside the den to nuzzle up to each other, they seemed to play for a few seconds, then cut up the small branch so it would fit in their den... all this was happening too close to me to be outside the minimum shooting range of the lens... if I would have moved they would have spooked so all I could do is sit there and curse at myself for not bringing my second body with another lens. For the rest of the morning they came and went but never as a pair so although I did get some really good closeups of individuals I missed 5 minutes at least of prime shooting time watching the intimate going ons of these 2 little guys.
Lesson learned.. at least for the rest of this year...
2 shots that I did manage...
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Canon 7D + 50D + EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM + EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM + EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Pelican // Black Rapid // Think Tank // Manfrotto // Garmin
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Saw only 5 or 6 intact coteries and a lot of empty burrows. I was really pleased to see that in the past few years the town has exploded and is doing really well. Lots of babies and some expansion. Getting large enough to support some other species again, now too. Might go back with a spotting scope later in the summer to see if I can spot a few mountain plovers or burrowing owl. Got a kick out of this shot. Not a technically great shot, and heavily cropped, but come on! Look at all of them! There were several coteries around with groups of youngsters this big. 
