Photographing Upland Birds

I recently had an amazing few hours on the moors above Grinton, photographing four different species of bird - all within a couple of hours. Lapwings, red grouse, curlew - and my first ever Golden Plover (!) all came within yards of the car. A perfect morning of wildlife photogaphy.

This was my first photo shoot of the morning - a beautiful lapwing chick that ran around the grass, every now and then peeping out and posing beautifully for the camera.

Summer offers good opportunities for young birds, such as this grouse family that bumbled along the heather close to the roadside. I had about twenty minutes with these birds, watching the chicks clambering over the heather - overseen by the parents all the while. The lighting here was just fantastic: the sun was now stronger so I shot towards the light and used a diffused flash for fill-in. I'm a big fan of this kind of lighting - and it worked so well here.

Probably my favourite encounter was with this curlew - partly because a good image of this bird has eluded me until now. Usually curlews are flying away from the car: this one was running towards me..! I couldn't believe my luck when it stood on a mound and posed perfectly... pure magic! I had a number of chances as the birds did circuits around my car, running behind me then flying in front, scuttling around and calling constantly. The light was lovely too - soft backlighting which is fast becoming my favourite type of light for wildlife photography... it gives a wonderful quality that I think highlights the delicacy of so many birds and animals.

This day had to be one of the best wildlife photography sessions ever - I can't wait to return! Definitely worth the 4.00am start!! Evenings would be great here too I imagine, but nothing quite beats the stillness and serenity of early morning, punctuated by the evocative calls of the upland birds on this Yorkshire Dales moor.

As part of my wildlife photography workshop programme for next year, I'll certainly be including this location - and with further visits, I'll know the best spots too.

Red Deer Photography Workshop

Photograph majestic Red Deer during the Autumn Rut

I will be leading a wildlife photography workshop on red deer at Studley Royal in North Yorkshire on Sunday 23rd October. Price £85. Maximum 4 people. The date is timed to coincide with the annual red deer rut that is at its peak during October. Here stags vie for position as they hope to establish dominance over the female herd. Stags are at their best during autumn and provide one of nature's greatest wildlife spectacles when engaging in full blown battles with clashing antlers.

The species are not limited to red deer and we will also be able to photograph fallow and sika amidst the grounds. The changing colours of autumn will provide a colourful backdrop for this wildlife photography workshop.



Itinerary

8.00am: meet and discuss the day

8.30am: begin photography

12.00am: Lunch at the Lakeside cafe; learn from images

1.00pm: more deer photography

3.00pm: finish

Equipment: Ideally a 300mm lens or longer; plenty of memory card space; tripod optional; please do not wear full camouflage clothing

To book a place contact me: paul.miguel@ntlworld.com or 07759485791 (£30 deposit required)

Bempton Cliffs Wildlife Photography Workshop

Photograph the spectacular seabirds at Bempton Cliffs

I will be running a photography workshop to coincide with the busiest activity at Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire coast on Sunday 26th June. Price: £100 per person. Maximum: 5 people. The site is home to twenty thousand pairs of gannets along with breeding puffins, guilemots and razorbills.
The opportunities along the cliff tops are endless, with non-stop birds returning to their nests and landing on rocky ledges. There are some particularly good viewpoints which give perfect opportunities for flight photography against the ocean backdrop. Tuition will be given on flight photography techniques, exposure and composition and also on predicting behaviour. The gannets will be our main target, but the site is also good for photographing guilemot, razorbill, puffin, kittiwake and fulmar. In addition there is a bird feeding station which regularly attracts farmland species including large flocks of tree sparrow throughout the year.

Itinerary (subject to slight changes)

10.00am: Meet and discuss the day over coffee.
10.30am: Set out to visit the west or eastern viewing point

2.00pm: Lunch at the White Horse Pub, Bempton

3.00pm: Visit bird feeding station then visit different seabird viewing area
Late afternoon/evening: If the light is good then there will be the option of photographing til sunset with time to have a break and a rest beforehand.

Equipment: Any lens from 200mm upwards is large enough here; tripod/beanbag (beanbags are preferable and can be rested on the fence post when photographing seabirds); plenty of memory card space!! Bear in mind the exposed cliff top can become quite cold even in mid summer so adequate clothing is advised.

Email me: paul.miguel@ntlworld.com or phone 07759485791 to book a place. (A £30 deposit is required)

Birds of Prey Photography

Our recent Birds of Prey Photography Workshop proved just how imporant finding the right location can be. We're lucky enough to have access to acres of Yorkshire farmland, and the mixture of habitat is perfect. Old buildings and barns are ideal for little owl and barn owl - not to mention two wonderful open windows which our barn owl is happy to fly through for photography! The surrounding landscape is also beautiful, including barley fields during the summer, and a pine plantation that provides natural settings for long eared and eagle owl. Here's just a few images from the last bird of prey workshop.

This farm near to Masham will be a regular location for our birds of prey photography courses. Images taken by clients can be viewed at Yorkshire wildife and landscape photography. To see other workshops in Yorkshire visit nature photography courses

Bird of Prey Photography Workshop - Farm buildings and barns

I still have places remaining on the 14th May Birds of Prey Photography Course. The workshop takes place on a rural Yorkshire farm; we will be using the buildings, barns and variety of farm machinery, along with other natural perches to photograph barn owl, little owl and kestrel. We will also be shooting a stunning male goshawk in the surrounding countryside. Click here to see previous images from these birds of prey workshops in north Yorkshire. These days are ideal for anyone with an interest in wildlife photography who wants to practice and develop their skills.

Yorkshire Red Grouse Photography

I recently spent an enjoyable day with a client on one of my Yorkshire Dales Birds Photography Courses As usual there was plenty around, with lapwing, curlew and oystercatcher shouting across the moors. The curlews are particularly difficult to photograph, and although we saw plenty - they were mostly in flight as they passed over the car.. As often is the case, the red grouse were out in force - mostly males who posed obligingly by the roadside for minutes at a time as we endulged in some perfect wildlife photography (congratulations Craig on your first grouse photo!) We were even treated to some classic calling, and a bit of interaction with the odd female. At the end of the day I was lucky enough to capture some cracking images - some of my best to date of red grouse. The low evening light created beautiful backlighting of the birds and the surrounding heather. I varied the shots: some with fill-flash and some without and managed to record some interesting poses.

I am planning more of theses nature photography workshops later this summer to capture the grouse when the heather is in bloom, along with other potential subjects and locations.

Nature Photography Workshop Fairburn Ings

Yesterday's nature photography workshop at Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire went really well. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The group was full and I think everyone enjoyed the day's photography. Some of the group's nature photographs can be viewed at my wildlife and landscape photography group on flickr Yorkshire Wildlife and Landscape Photography - thanks to those who uploaded their images. There are some cracking close ups including dragonflies, butterflies and moths. We even had a pair of common blues mating which really made the day!!

Photographing Upland Birds

I recently led another photography workshop photographing upland birds in Nidderdale. The morning was superb - not just for birds but also for perfect weather. We had a great day and managed to bag a number of shots of lapwing, red grouse and meadow pipit - some of which posed perfectly for us by the roadside.. You can view some images taken on my Flickr group: Yorkshire Wildlife and Landscape Photography

A week ago I was back again (I just can't keep away from this fantastic location!), and once more I experienced cracking weather... in fact I can't ever remember it being so still up here on the moor. The grouse are certainly the easiest birds to photograph here and make great subjects during spring.

I was particularly happy to get images with more interesting lighting as I shot towards the early morning sun. The resulting shots make such a difference to the atmosphere.. Now I know the best spots for backgrounds I think it's a case of waiting by these places for something to happen in order to get an extra special image.

Lapwings are also confiding - a particular patch of open grass often proves fruitful for these stunning birds. I was even lucky enough to photograph a chick as it ran by the roadside before finding a hole in the stone wall to step through...
Meadow pipits continue to give me the run-around, but occasionally one will stop long enough for me to get a clean shot. What's really surprising me up here is the more unusual species that have come close to the car. Wheatear is definitely possible, and add to that the ring ouzel... a really difficult bird to shoot. As always it's a case of putting in the time! Next year I plan to run the same wildlife photography course. View Uplands Birds Photography Course to see the details.

A Ton of Food - and a Ton of Birds

The last couple of months have been fantastic at my feeding station. The cold weather kept the birds coming in and it was particularly busy. Up to 5 species of tit came to feed, with the marsh tit a fleeting but welcome visitor. I've been through numerous perches: hazel catkins, alder, lichen covered branches, logs, and stumps - all to provide interesting perches for the birds. The good activity also provided excellent opportunities for those who came on my bird photography courses to photograph the birds.

Light levels sometimes made life difficult, but although difficult to obtain a truly sharp image, the resulting detail and colour remind me just how useful this lighting is - I would shoot in this light all the time... if it were possible! Fast moving birds just don't really allow this..
This year was particularly good for woodpeckers. Both male and female quickly took to my 'woodpecker feeder' and it was rare not to see one during a session in the hide. They can become wonderfully comfortable once they get used to the food, and are completely used to the camera shutter. At times they simply clamp themselves onto the food and clear the lot. It's such a privilege to watch these birds at such close quarters... On every woodland bird photography workshop I ran, everybody managed to get a shot of this colourful and vibrant bird.
As always, I strive to capture something a little different, whether it's unusual behaviour or a creative setting and backdrop. With this in mind I used a fallen sweet chestnut (kept in the freezer) and filled the inside with fat ball mixture in order to add some shape and colour. The resulting images are perhaps a little too set up, but experimenting is always worth a try, and it allows you to make those extra tweaks and changes that eventually might just lead to that 'perfect shot'..

Next year I hope to run the same nature photography course at the same location.

Yorkshire Wildlife & Landscape Photography Workshops

I am currently planning my workshop programme for next year, which will include some new subjects and locations. I have recently agreed on a beautiful location for a couple of photography courses on plants, butterflies and dragonflies - in a semi-private bluebell wood near to Wetherby. Fingers crossed - I may also be able to provide a workshop for guaranteed red squirrels..! The birds of prey photography workshops continue to be very popular and are great fun. They are also an ideal way of practising your skills in wildlife photography.

I have recently set up a group on Flickr: Yorkshire Wildlife and Landscape Photography for participants of workshops to share their images. This is a great way to show people how we do things, and what pictures are possible. Here are just a couple of my images from past bird of prey courses in North Yorkshire.

The birds are coming

My winter feeding station is starting to get busy. There are now regular blue tits, coal tits, great tits; and my favourite the long tailed tits... these birds are just so lovely to see - they give you good warning too before they arrive - 'pinging' away as they fly towards the bird feeders. I have had up to ten, and counted a total of eight on the big bird feeder - all at the same time! When it's a group and they all begin calling, it's like a wonderful natural symphony.

I'm also getting nuthatches, jays and woodpeckers - although not as regularly. The jays are interesting... I see them skulking in the distance before they float to a perch to check things out. Once on the ground they seem quite bold as they happily hoover up the fallen peanuts. On top of that was a cracking sighting of a male sparrowhawk as he rushed through the woodland clearing - he's obviously spotted the potential for his own feeding station..!

Another cold snap is forecast, so fingers crossed for some good light..

New Year Frosts

This seems like proper winter. I can't believe the temperatures are continuing to stay so low - o.k. it means turning the heating up, but in terms of photography it just doesn't get much better than thick frosts and snow... well, not for me anyway. The previous night was forecast to be ridiculously cold - possibly down to minus ten in some areas. Needless to say, I was up and out early...

Taking the usual road through Wharfedale, my eye was taken by a large bird flying behing an oak tree... A buzzard perhaps, I thought. Only when I cleared the next bend did I get a decent view - and then I realised that big bird of prey was a red kite, amazingly joined by two more as they floated at tree height, no doubt waiting to return to a dead pheasant that lay in the road; it's definitely cold! My photogenic destination today was Littondale - a spot above Litton by the footpath, with beautiful views looking back down along the valley. The scene was perfect. Thick frost coated the ground... the distant hills showed a dusting of snow... and a wonderful combination of light and shadow playing on the hillsides. A walk further on and the snow was thicker; providing a classic image of gate, stone wall and distant hill tops from a high vantage point. A good morning's work, and even though it didn't feel terribly cold... it was still time for a hot lunch.

My afternoon was rewarding too. Reached from Storiths, there is a cracking viewpoint to photograph Bolton Priory, and during the afternoon it becomes almost backlit. The surrounding trees are great too, with lovely side-lighting striking the green winter branches. I was happy with my exposures, and the gravestones surrounding the priory added an interesting dimension, as they gave a contrast of frost-free in the sunshine, and cold white in the shadows. It was now 3.00pm and the sun already near the horizon. Time to think about returning home.



How many more of these winter days to come I wonder? Roll on February....