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A fast comment, hubby has a youtube channel he started about 11 months ago, had one video to sell a boat listing and it took off! Now he then poured on efforts last Sept which was 3 months later for a second video....then he has done weekly videos. He has now 2,280 subscribers with people jumping on daily...if you want tips...reply to me and I will tell you free!!! He has only 32 videos to your 126 videos! I am happy to tell you how to up your game on getting subscribers!!!! yachtlens is how to find him. I also watch Simon!!! Love his videos.... I subscribed to help you! I have great tips that are just going to involve your own efforts to get you over that 500 member number which do not cost a cent. There are apps out there to help you find birds in your area free you can download on your phone per location. Also Merlin is free to download to identify birds you hear before you see them. Areas with water are always good.....winter berries.....putting out a little bird seed helps as out here they can't forage enough with their high numbers...we help them a bit...I have ravens I feed but the Bald Eagles fend for themselves.

After having 4 foot surgeries last year, titanium plates and 5 screws first two surgeries with two months recovery for each one....and then all got removed in a double foot surgery when I reacted badly to titanium....all kinds of invasive work was done on my feet....walking great now! However there is painful throbbing at night...I could care less as like you...I am so excited to get back out with my photography!! I walked a 6 mile day last month with a smile on my face! Happy to see your channel....and that you are doing well! I don't know what seasoned photographer thinks its not a 360 day venture? I shoot just about every day and get pics year round!! Rain, shine, high winds, snow and all kinds of weather!! I am an avid boater with hubby and on the water shots as well. This past winter we kept our boat out but it will go back in next month. We have the highest concentration of birds per the size of this island for WA state with the Audubon society coming out yearly for bird counts. No predators on land or deer.....only raptors and with a Bald Eagles nest below our home? I have massive amounts of shots!! However with the whales so far down below our open water view I need a bigger zoom lens. I have gotten some great shots but not what I am looking to attain. I just ordered a hunting tent to put up a "blind" I can go inside right behind my home in all weather to get shots and the birds won't see me. I even got the drape cloth...its going to be here next week. That way they will come close enough for those epic clear shots! I have Osprey out here as well...the one in my profile was taken with a 70mm to 300mm Nikkor zoom lens beyond MAX! I thought it was a gull and imagine my surprise to get two clear but not epic shots. Well I take that with a smile as my updated lens will be a gently used 200 to 500 zoom next. The Sony A73 will have to wait as the 600mm lens for that one even used will be later on. Wish I could transport you HERE! We see a minimum of at least 12 different birds a day!!!

Great video Mike !!! And it was an absolute pleasure meeting you today !!! What are the chances of us both hitting the same place hahaha. Going through all my pictures now to see see what video I can put together from the trip, really look forward to seeing yours buddy!

So organised. Good onya. 👍 glad your doing ok.

Glad to see that you're recovering Mike. You mention Paul and Simon but don't sell yourself short. As a noob myself I find your videos just as inspiring and I hope that you and your channel continue to grow.

Good to see you recovering well. The thing with this time of year is perhaps visiting locations where you are more likely to see birds. There are locations that are better than others at different times of year. Coastal and wetland being a better bet just now. It actually is hardest, I find, late July/August when a lot of birds go through a Summer moult. Anyway most of the enjoyment is just being out for me. Some good images? - that’s just a bonus.

Good to see you back out 😊. Nothing more frustrating than being stuck inside when you’re desperate to get out with your camera (I’ve been there 😂). Looking forward to your future videos 😊

This is my first spring doing wildlife photography as well and I was surprised how light the activity is. I think it is mostly because of nesting since lots of animals aren't in their usual areas.

Persistence is key - but I imagine it's nesting time. by mid-summer should be more opportunities. Fall to spring is the best time with little to no tree leaves

Hope the Op goes well mate. On the subject of the photography, how do you feel about sitting in a hide and letting the birds/wildlife come to you? I must admit that it's something I find quite difficult to do. I like to be on the move. That's why I tend not to photograph many birds to be honest! 😂😂

As I was watching this video, a red kite flew over my office, which is the conservatory with a glass roof. They do this three or four times a day, at about 10 to 20 feet, not one but two or three sometimes. Thanks for sharing the video.

Whitby is one of my favourite places in Yorkshire. I hope to be back sometime this year. Thanks for sharing that video.

Rest well and we’ll be here when you get better!

Hope all goes well with the op, I think a lot of us are in the same boat at the moment, but there is always the bonus of being out there in nature even if the photo's are hard to come by

Rest up heal well and stay safe

Good video Mike, look forward to seeing you back out !!! All the best

Yes mate, that's why you go for more open landscapes now. In the middle of a green forest you need so much luck. There are plenty of birds, you can hear them constantly throughout the video, but you can't see far and those buggers love hiding. You could scout out some nests for posting, woodpeckers are usually relatively easy to find. Once you know a location, and you can get close, find the spots they land... You can get nice set-ups sometimes. This is where you need knowledge of the birds you want to photograph to give you the most chances, and for that you just need a lot of observation and patience really.

The birds are active now with chicks, constantly finding food so can be difficult to photograph. Early morning and into the evening are your best bets for birds and mammals until the end of summer. I know a lot of birders move to butterflies and dragonflies during the summer months. To be honest, sitting still for a bit, staying in one place, letting things settle round you helps. If your out and just hear or see wildlife, even if it's not a good image, should be good result. It's all learning, it clears the ind and wildlife photography is the ultimate mindfulness intervention as you can not be anything other than there and in the moment! Also, wildlife knows when you're about to pack up, or your time in an area has run out and everything will show itself as you leave.

I absolutely agree with you, birding is the best!! Beautiful bird pictures!

mid-may to August, I switch to insects after 9am, birds like us don't want to be in the heat of the day so they are high in the canopy keeping cool in the shade with full bellies the only birds I can get after 9am are your fly catchers, blue birds and swallows and to get them I have to mow the lawn.

Earlier morning is best, and l mean get to your location before sunrise! Yes it does hurt to be woken at 4 or 5am! [lm definitely not a morning person] but l guarantee when your there at that unearthly hour you will feel the magic of just being there!

You're making videos and talking. That's your problem. 😁

There was a park near my house. I went there whenever I had free time. Sometimes nothing, other times JACKPOT … In that one park alone I photographed birds I’ve never seen in my 53 years of living. Birds I didn’t know existed. My point is find a spot and frequent it. Best of luck

Thats just the way wildlifephotography and birding is some times.

You might want to set up a blind and then put up some food in certain areas within that focal length that you wish that could actually help I'm thinking about doing that down at Rocky River there's quite a few sections I could just sit my butt down and not worry about anything unless the birds come to me

First good video Second for me it doesn't matter what season it is I do nothing but struggle to get any kind of a birdshot or animal shop for that matter Mostly because I'm legally blind with permission that it brainstorm and ocular migraines out the wazoo every single day so I live with a crap load of pain so getting out is step one step two is not looking up at the Sun or anywhere near it which makes things worse except three going out only when it's cloudy and even then I'm subject to certain frequencies that trigger my ocular migraines So the best I can do is my weekend warrior photography for a limited amount of hour and a half maybe 2 hours if I'm lucky but I don't drive so I have to ride a bike everywhere I go and then walk the rest of it and then I have to ride my butt back home up cardiac arrest hill which is a nice lovely 2000 plus feet climb

You're doing great, Mike. You're becoming more and more natural in front of the camera, and I am loving the progress. Great stuff, mate.

Most of my photographer friends switch to Dragonfly and Butterfly subjects once it gets past the middle of May for this reason, the small passerines in particular become much more difficult when the leaves are out. They are also much less likely to show themselves as they are already paired up and busy nesting and taking care of young.

Nice video Mike and like yourself this is my first spring shooting Wildlife. I think as with all wildlife there is always no guarantees but for myself I have noticed all the leaves have made it a lot more challenging haha. Personally I think Spring is a cracking time but as ever its very much about being in the right place at the right time. I've had a few trips where I've struggled to see much, then others where I have been spoilt for choice !

Hi Mike it’s an awkward time is spring birds migrating back start breeding almost straightaway now most will be on eggs or have young. August the birds start to relax and feed a bit more also look for warblers and other migration birds feeding up ready for the flight back over seas in late August and early September. find a potentially good spot to sit or stand eventually you’ll be rewarded. I have been bird spotting for 40 years but recently brought a Nikon p 950 bridge 83x optical zoom A hide 2 trail cams and rucksack .as I already have the coolpix p100 . I’m trying to find out if both my camera can use the same plug charger I can start to photograph and film the wildlife now.

I find early starts are good this time of year, while it's still quiet out people wise!! You'll be surprised at what's about at 5.30 in the morning 🙂

It’s the shiny white legs mate. Scares them away 😉 Kidding, but seriously, one thing I’ve learnt in the short amount of time I’ve been doing wildlife photography is that there are very rarely any guarantees. Wild is wild, and they will do and go anywhere they bloody want. The trick is to persevere and keep going out.

There you are.. you got a nice Red kite in the end. You know it is all about being out in nature and empty your head as we say here in Holland. Me too, I like walking around and doing stalking photography. I simply don’t like sitting in a hide for hours or walking around like a kind of tree in a ghilly suit. I like your style, nothing pretentious. Take care and I am looking forward to your next video to come.. cheers Ron😀👍

I wouldn't call it a failure.

Is there records accessible on numbers of birds?

Spring is an amazing time for bird photography. If you can find a tit nest then the adults will be in and out with food for the chicks very frequently. Many migrants are returning. More leaves does mean it can be harder to spot them, but select your areas carefully and then have patience as you observe and listen. Sometimes the most obvious (and easily overlooked) places are best; I came across a great tit nest in leaves on a stone wall and a family of pheasants right there. Heavily leafy woods can be tricky for spotting and for light. Don’t forget lakes and beaches. And don’t feel too bad for having days where you blank, we all have them. Sometimes even weeks or months when we don’t get what we’re hoping for. Stick with it and be patient.

Great video mate, and great captures of the the Long Tailed !!!

Loved it and the tit photos are very good! I got a shot the other day but not so good :-)

The trees look so fresh and new. Always great exploring , the photos are the beautiful bonus of any photographers walk. Beautiful photos.

Good video mate, was good to see you back here again to try with the Kites. But your 100% right and it does highlight that sometimes things just don't go to plan as the wildlife has other ideas haha.

Awesome so wonderful video

I haven't visited Titchwell Marsh for nearly 20 years! Way back when I was a member of my local RSPB group in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. They used to organise trips to different reserves and Titchwell was one of those reserves. But, as I say, it's been nearly 20 years, so lots of changes could've taken place. You captured some lovely shots there my friend!

Great video again buddy, some cracking images. Love the Blackbird !!!!

Your title is wrong. It should be "The HARSH Reality of the UK"

I very much enjoy ambling through the local woods (West Yorkshire, near Hebden Bridge) with camera and a pair of binoculars. The bird song is delightful and a decent pair of binoculars really do help to spot them. I aim to get a longer lens (300mm is my longest ATM) so that I can actually our wild birds to fill the frame. Deer are a bonus on the odd occasion that I see them :-)

The grass is always greener...sometimes I'm limited to house sparrow, minor and doves. On rare occasions galah corella and spinebills grace me. Bigger animals here I've found are being pushed out. Roos, wombats, koala, echidna.

Isn't it times like this that you wish you were a landscape photographer Mike? lol. 😂😂😉😉 The thing with wildlife is that it will do what it likes, whether you like it or not eh? You're right though, we are very blessed in the UK to have a large array of habitats and wonderful countryside to photograph!

Our successive governments as well as this one being the worst has shown time and time again its total disregard for our wildlife and habitats, Most of our land is owned by farmers and large landowners and estates all of which have decimated our wildlife and habitats as well and the relentless persecution of all preditors and raptor species! this country ithis government is a fucking Joke !

Great talk! The UK is indeed a very special place, coming from continental Switzerland!

I hail from Florida (southern part) in the US. It’s flat, hot, buggy, hot, flat, buggy, and generally miserable outside for 9 months of the year. We do have lots of birds in the winter months. And alligators… As much as I love the Everglades they can become monotonous and I’d rather be almost anywhere else most of the time. You have a lot there I’m envious of for certain. Still, it’s great to photograph where you live, you have better access than anyone to make compelling and beautiful images. Thanks for sharing your time with us!