The HARSH Reality of wildlife photography in the UK

The UK, as great as it can be, can be a real pain for undertaking any form of bird or wildlife photography, as discussed in today's bonus bank holiday video! However, its not all doom and gloom, as mentioned here...
#birdphotographer #birdphotography #wildlifephotographer #wildlifephotography #naturephotographer #naturephotography #sigmalens #sonyalpha #sonya7r4

[@clovishound5756]

A lot of us suffer from the "grass is always greener" syndrome. I look at photographs folks take in other places, and think how great it would be to have the same opportunities as them. Honestly, I'm sure that these people look at images from my area and think the same thing. Within an hour of my house are loads of parks, swamps, plantations, beaches, forests, etc. Some have entrance fees and many are free, or nearly free. Heck, I even sowed a few dollars worth of wildflower seeds in my backyard, and this summer spent a lot of time photographing insects, arachnids and reptiles just feet from my back door. Bottom line is that there are lots of opportunities for good nature photography almost anywhere you live. You just need to get out there and seek out the good spots. Learn the time of day, time of year and places that certain species are there and at their best for images.

[@RichardUpstanding]

I totally hear you, and feel your pain.
Here in Ireland we have even less wildlife and even shittier weather 🙈
So much of our land is inhospitable to wildlife and inaccessible due to farmland. We’ve destroyed our biodiversity.

[@JustOneKnight]

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.

[@labalia30]

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

[@StevenLilley]

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 :-)

[@mikestebbingsphotography]

There are deer in these woods too! Sadly, I only usually ever see them as they leap out from near me and run away! Haha!

[@jjseandxcefree]

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

[@ashstubbings2603]

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!

[@mikestebbingsphotography]

You got that right!

[@jasoneldridgephotography]

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!