Hi everyone! Thank you so much for watching this video we really hope you enjoyed it. One correction from us, thank you to our wonderful friend Steve for pointing it out, is that the 'Redshanks' we showed were in fact actually Black-tailed Godwits. We shall be making sure we re-visit our field guides to study up on our waders 😀 thank you Steve!
Another great video. Such a variety of wildlife in one weekend. Great to see the owls 🦉 and marsh harriers. Very brave to sleep in the camper van. Well done 👍
Just out of interest, where did you stay in the camper? Coming down in Feb from Derbyshire, have found a CMCC near on Sheppey but Elmley only seems to do huts and barn type accomodation at huge cost.
@ Hi Graham, we stayed at The Plough Inn near Sittingbourne. They very kindly let campervans/motorhomes park in the carpark if you're having dinner there so we had a lovely pub meal with them and stayed in the carpark. It's probably 20 minutes away from Elmley. Just be sure to check what dates you're going and when they're open. It's a really wonderful pub we'd definitely go again!
@@AWilderLife that's great suggestion thanks. Great video, nice and natural. We are going to see if our nemesis bird, the Short Eared Owl, puts in an appearance. You'd think the Peak District would suffice but never seen one up here.
@@grahamking2682 damn that's unlucky! We went back to Elmley again this Saturday and saw the SEOs again so you're in with a good chance I'd say! 😀will keep our fingers crossed for you!
3 in a day greedy 😂 Love it.. good work. Like you say a great start to the year. If you keep putting in the effort you will create your own luck.. Good luck and thanks for sharing your exciting 2 days! 👍🏻 from me.
Another excellent video, thank you for sharing another awesome expedition . I'm a big fan of owls ,I managed to snap a barn owl on tuesday. I think it's probably the best photo I've ever taken in 14 years of photography. Keep the brilliant videos coming Ladies there's a lot of us out here that love your work. P s loved the bits with the van
Thank you so much! Wow the barn owl experience sounds amazing, they are absolutely stunning animals. Always a good day when you see one 😀 really appreciate your support it means so much to us! 🙏
@@AWilderLife Yeah, sorry. Saw your comment too late. I was there a few days ago and saw next to nothing lol. Lovely place but I didn't fancy sleeping in that van in that cold.
@@timballard27 No worries we're happy to be corrected, I'm terrible with waders! It was cold for sure, I like to think the owls made it worth it haha 🦉
You could have uploaded 30 minutes of slow-motion owls and I'd watch it, haha, the footage you managed to get is so good! And lovely video, really nice to get to follow along on your adventures.
What a wonderful weekend you had! I've been to Elmley a couple of times, even though it's not near me, and it didn't disappoint either time. I've yet to see an owl there, although I did have the classic "Oh, you should have been here ten minutes ago, we got some great pictures of a little owl" etc. I did have the luck of a stoat hunting in and out of the cattle grids on the long drive to the entrance and even managed to catch some photos of the event. It was great for marsh harriers too. Re the Dartford Warblers, I'm lucky enough to live in Winnie the Pooh country ten minutes from Ashdown Forest, so it's not unusual to see them there. Thanks for this uplifting and inspiring video. Just what was needed on a cold, wet and windy Sunday afternoon. Thank you.
Thank you Tom that's very kind, so glad you enjoyed this one. Elmley is such a wonderful place, the stoat experience sounds wonderful! We're definitely up for trying to find some Dartford Warblers so thank you for the intel, we might head that way!
@@AWilderLife Old Lodge, run by the Sussex Wildlife Trust (TH-cam won't let me post a link) is a great place to see them on a still sunny winter's day. They perch up well on the gorse and are easy to photograph.
Haha it sometimes feels like cheating at Elmley because there’s so much to see! 😀 it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re ever back in the UK! 😀 Hope you’ve been seeing loads of birds this year so far!
That was a wonderful return and looking at the reserve, it appears to be an ideal location for those species and will be good for many years to come. I could probably watch Barn Owls all day, but I'm pleased that you came across all the others too and luck had very little to do with it. You clearly demonstated why I've been such a useless birdwatcher over the years because you prepared so thoroughly, as ever, were patient and hung around in the cold weather. The sub-zero temperatures would have put me off those early starts, so well done to both of you!
Thank you Michael! We absolutely agree with you about Barn Owls, they are really magical. The cold weather was definitely a challenge but we think it was well worth it! So glad you enjoyed the video 😀
Great Video, looks like an excellent couple of visits. I find Elmley's usually reliable for something good wildlife wise when I visit, but seem to rarely get there. As it opens so late, I end up at one of the many other spots on Sheppey 1st thing and by the time I finish there its not worth paying the £8 to get in. I do have wonderful memories of getting in for sunrise, on day like your 2nd one, in this video and photographing a Merlin sat on the frosty ground and having hares run right across the path in front of me and Barn owls hunting next to me as the sun set in Summer, but that was way back when RSPB were still there and the opening hours were sunrise to sunset
Thanks so much Neil! We definitely want to explore a lot more of Sheppey, particularly like you said going very early in the morning. The Merlin experience sounds awesome, we did see one when we were there but it was VERY far away 😅 would love to film them one day!
Fantastic video. I love Elmley and have stayed a few times.in their shepherds huts in Spring but this made me book for winter trip. Thanks for.posting.
Thank you so much Lyn! So glad you enjoyed the video! The shepherd's huts look so beautiful we'd love to stay there one day. You'll be in for a treat if you get to go in winter. We can't wait to go back 😀
Excellent, we saw you at elmley, bit of a foggy start weren’t it. I grew up on those marshes. elmley is the last bastion of how things used to be. Glad you enjoyed it
Good morning, yet another gorgeous video, nice to wake up to and drink some coffee! Thanks so much ❤ looking forward to the next one! Do you plan on visiting down south?
Thank you so much Ads, so glad you liked the video! We're actually based down south so we've got a few places we'd like to do here too 😀 let us know if you have any recommendations! 🙌
Well... there's a place called Yarner wood on Dartmoor, been on my bucket list for some time now, just don't ever seem to get there. That pesky thing called life gets in the way! Haha, But everything I've heard from people suggests that it's well worth the visit! You'll probably get there before me! There is also a national trust estate called Parke just down the road and if your hungry there is a yummy farm shop/cafe around the corner too.
What a great outing. Sounds like a few first times for you at that location. I’ve got serious van envy! I don’t think that we have anything like that under $100,000 US. We can try and convert an older cargo van if you have the skills, but boy would it be nice to have something like yours! What make is it?
Thank you Kelly 😀 we converted our van a few years ago and it's been amazing for adventures. It was an old painter/decorator's van, it's a VW Transporter. It was a bit of a project converting it but it was great fun and we love going out and about in it!
Great video. Really enjoyed it. I have just got into bird (nature) watching over the last year and a real beginner. Would be interested in what camera and equipment you use. Loved the van bits. Elmley is now another place on my list to visit. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words Peter! I have a Sony A7iii, and I use the Sony 200-600mm lens, I've had both for a good 5+ years now I'd say and they're great. I can very quickly get lost in gear reviews and what to upgrade next so I try not too look too much haha 🫣 we can definitely recommend Elmley, you'd have a wonderful time!
Beautiful video ladies! Lovely to see the Barn Owl and SEOs I absolutely love going on a hunt to get some lovely photos of the Owls! I live in Suffolk and we do have some good places for Barn Owls and SEOs but obviously some years are better than others! I will be going to Bakewell in the Peak District in August with my wife and kids! I was just wondering if you know anywhere in the Peak District that has a nature reserve or a good place to capture photos of some owls or wildlife?
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed the video 😀 Ah we love the Peak District, you'll have a wonderful time! We haven't actually been there very recently but we've been hoping to get back there soon and have been looking at some locations we might try. Ladybower, Derwent & Howden Reservoirs are supposed to possibly be good for Tawny and Barn owls, Chatsworth Park & Beeley Moor is supposed to be good for Tawny, Barn AND Little Owls, then over in the Eastern Moors (like Curbar & Big Moor) could be good for SEO and Barn... but we haven't been to any of them yet so we can't promise anything 😅 it could be worth seeing if eBird has any reports near-by closer to the time to see if there are any hotspots. If we head up there before August we'll try to put a little post up saying what we've seen. Let us know how you get on! 😀
Thank you so much! Yep you're absolutely right. I had an ND filter on so I could keep my shutter speed at the 180 rule for filming, it was such a beautiful bright day that I found myself needing it quite a lot. I think I might be able to put the hood on the right way round with the filter on, but it makes it that much harder to adjust the variable ND if the light changes or I'm switching frame rates and I can use more/less light. I can't decide if the filter affecting the image quality at the moment though so I might experiment with not using it and just closing the aperture right down so we'll see! The Sony A7iii has a base ISO of 800 when I'm in Slog-2 so things can get quite bright 😅
Hi everyone! Thank you so much for watching this video we really hope you enjoyed it. One correction from us, thank you to our wonderful friend Steve for pointing it out, is that the 'Redshanks' we showed were in fact actually Black-tailed Godwits. We shall be making sure we re-visit our field guides to study up on our waders 😀 thank you Steve!
Another great adventure, love that you could see three owls, how fantastic!
Thank you Laurie! So glad you enjoyed it, we couldn’t believe we got three in one day 😀 very lucky indeed
Absolutely brilliant ladies never been would love to go love the owls 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you so much Dave! Absolutely wonderful place, it's definitely worth a visit! 🦉
Another great video. Such a variety of wildlife in one weekend. Great to see the owls 🦉 and marsh harriers.
Very brave to sleep in the camper van.
Well done 👍
Thank you Dale! So glad you enjoyed this one, it was a bit cold in the camper but well worth it! 😅🦉
Just out of interest, where did you stay in the camper? Coming down in Feb from Derbyshire, have found a CMCC near on Sheppey but Elmley only seems to do huts and barn type accomodation at huge cost.
@ Hi Graham, we stayed at The Plough Inn near Sittingbourne. They very kindly let campervans/motorhomes park in the carpark if you're having dinner there so we had a lovely pub meal with them and stayed in the carpark. It's probably 20 minutes away from Elmley. Just be sure to check what dates you're going and when they're open. It's a really wonderful pub we'd definitely go again!
@@AWilderLife that's great suggestion thanks. Great video, nice and natural. We are going to see if our nemesis bird, the Short Eared Owl, puts in an appearance. You'd think the Peak District would suffice but never seen one up here.
@@grahamking2682 damn that's unlucky! We went back to Elmley again this Saturday and saw the SEOs again so you're in with a good chance I'd say! 😀will keep our fingers crossed for you!
Amazing video to see so much in such a short period Awesome 👍
thank you so much Mark! So pleased you liked the video!
@@AWilderLife Keep up the great work hope to see you out and about some day 🤞
So beautiful in the frost. A bit of a change from yesterday when it was absolutely chucking it down and windy 😂 the owls were all hiding
It was like Narnia 🤩 oh noooo but good result with the LEO! 😀
Lovely to see such huge smiles on your faces as you watch your wildlife. 😊
When there’s so much to see it was hard not to be smiling the whole time 😀 hoping this year carries on that way! 😊
👍🏼😃
Loved this one. It could be one of my favourites. ❤
Thank you so much 🥰
Great video as always. Looks absolutely freezing though. lol
Thank you so much Peter! It was very cold indeed haha but so worth it! 😀🦉
Thank you so much for these great shots!
Thank you! 😀 so glad you enjoyed it!
brilliant vid. elmley is next on my list! had never heard of it till now!
Cheers Jack! Elmley is definitely worth a visit, you'd have a great time!
3 in a day greedy 😂 Love it.. good work. Like you say a great start to the year. If you keep putting in the effort you will create your own luck.. Good luck and thanks for sharing your exciting 2 days! 👍🏻 from me.
Thank you Rich! So glad you liked the video! Hopefully the year can carry on like this 😀
Those Bearded reedlings! Such beautiful and interesting birds!
Thank you Eugene! We felt so lucky to see them, they were great fun to watch! 😀🌾
Many thanks for your nature video 😊😊😊
Thank you David 😀
Great to see fresh unique content
Great adventures ❤
Thank you so much guys that's very kind of you! 😀
What a great trip and video! 🦉👍🏻 Cheers from Denmark 🇩🇰🐺
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it! 😀
Great shots as always!!
Thank you Tommy! 😀🙏
Great nature video, thank you for sharing 👍
Thank you Mark! Glad you enjoyed it 😀
Lovely video again, guys. I like how you put the birds name and Latin name to the pictures. Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you so much John! We did make a mistake with the Redshanks actually being Black-tailed Godwits but we're still learning 😀
@@AWilderLife Every day's a school day. I'm in my 60s and still learning 😆
Great video! And really impressed with the number of short eared owls, wish we had those numbers in the Netherlands!
Thank you so much Youri! We were very luck with the SEOs, they're such a nice winter visitor for us here in the UK 😀
That was very good i did enjoy thank you.
Thank you so much Andrew, so pleased you enjoyed the video 😀
Nice Video 👍
Best regards from Germany.
Ralf
@ thank you Ralf! 😀
Another excellent video, thank you for sharing another awesome expedition . I'm a big fan of owls ,I managed to snap a barn owl on tuesday. I think it's probably the best photo I've ever taken in 14 years of photography. Keep the brilliant videos coming Ladies there's a lot of us out here that love your work. P s loved the bits with the van
Thank you so much! Wow the barn owl experience sounds amazing, they are absolutely stunning animals. Always a good day when you see one 😀 really appreciate your support it means so much to us! 🙏
Amazing video and captures as always! So many owls in one video!
Thank you so much Jordan! We felt very lucky! 🦉 😀
Beautiful images!
Thank you so much Mikko 😀
The Redshanks are Black tailed Godwits. Nice video :)
Thanks Tim! A few people have pointed this out so we put a comment in about that but thanks for pointing it out 👍 glad you enjoyed the video! 😀
@@AWilderLife Yeah, sorry. Saw your comment too late. I was there a few days ago and saw next to nothing lol. Lovely place but I didn't fancy sleeping in that van in that cold.
@@timballard27 No worries we're happy to be corrected, I'm terrible with waders! It was cold for sure, I like to think the owls made it worth it haha 🦉
You could have uploaded 30 minutes of slow-motion owls and I'd watch it, haha, the footage you managed to get is so good! And lovely video, really nice to get to follow along on your adventures.
Thank you so much Niklas that's very kind 😀 we're with you on watching 30 minutes of owls! They're so good to watch!
What a wonderful weekend you had! I've been to Elmley a couple of times, even though it's not near me, and it didn't disappoint either time. I've yet to see an owl there, although I did have the classic "Oh, you should have been here ten minutes ago, we got some great pictures of a little owl" etc. I did have the luck of a stoat hunting in and out of the cattle grids on the long drive to the entrance and even managed to catch some photos of the event. It was great for marsh harriers too. Re the Dartford Warblers, I'm lucky enough to live in Winnie the Pooh country ten minutes from Ashdown Forest, so it's not unusual to see them there. Thanks for this uplifting and inspiring video. Just what was needed on a cold, wet and windy Sunday afternoon. Thank you.
Thank you Tom that's very kind, so glad you enjoyed this one. Elmley is such a wonderful place, the stoat experience sounds wonderful! We're definitely up for trying to find some Dartford Warblers so thank you for the intel, we might head that way!
@@AWilderLife Old Lodge, run by the Sussex Wildlife Trust (TH-cam won't let me post a link) is a great place to see them on a still sunny winter's day. They perch up well on the gorse and are easy to photograph.
@ awesome thanks Tom! We've been meaning to visit a few more of the Sussex Wildlife Trust sites so that could be a good one to go for!
Apparently if I ever come back to the UK I need to have you both show me around! Such great owl luck along with some other great birds
Haha it sometimes feels like cheating at Elmley because there’s so much to see! 😀 it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re ever back in the UK! 😀 Hope you’ve been seeing loads of birds this year so far!
Great video love it :D Best wishes from Norway - Flaatten
Thank you Flaatten! We have just seen your amazing owl videos! Looks like Norway might need to be on our list for places to try and find more owls 🦉😀
I like the production value you two bring to your videos, I'm also glad to see you putting in the effort and not taking short cuts.
Thank you so much Vince, that's very kind, and means a lot to hear that from you! Looking forward to seeing more of your wonderful photography 🙌
@@AWilderLife hah I wouldn't go that far, but thanks :)
That was a wonderful return and looking at the reserve, it appears to be an ideal location for those species and will be good for many years to come. I could probably watch Barn Owls all day, but I'm pleased that you came across all the others too and luck had very little to do with it. You clearly demonstated why I've been such a useless birdwatcher over the years because you prepared so thoroughly, as ever, were patient and hung around in the cold weather. The sub-zero temperatures would have put me off those early starts, so well done to both of you!
Thank you Michael! We absolutely agree with you about Barn Owls, they are really magical. The cold weather was definitely a challenge but we think it was well worth it! So glad you enjoyed the video 😀
so many owls!
Haha and still never enough 😀
Great Video, looks like an excellent couple of visits. I find Elmley's usually reliable for something good wildlife wise when I visit, but seem to rarely get there. As it opens so late, I end up at one of the many other spots on Sheppey 1st thing and by the time I finish there its not worth paying the £8 to get in. I do have wonderful memories of getting in for sunrise, on day like your 2nd one, in this video and photographing a Merlin sat on the frosty ground and having hares run right across the path in front of me and Barn owls hunting next to me as the sun set in Summer, but that was way back when RSPB were still there and the opening hours were sunrise to sunset
Thanks so much Neil! We definitely want to explore a lot more of Sheppey, particularly like you said going very early in the morning. The Merlin experience sounds awesome, we did see one when we were there but it was VERY far away 😅 would love to film them one day!
Fantastic video. I love Elmley and have stayed a few times.in their shepherds huts in Spring but this made me book for winter trip. Thanks for.posting.
Thank you so much Lyn! So glad you enjoyed the video! The shepherd's huts look so beautiful we'd love to stay there one day. You'll be in for a treat if you get to go in winter. We can't wait to go back 😀
Lovely video, fyi your Redshanks at 1:49 are BTGodwits. 👍🏼
Thanks Shaun! Our friend Steve noticed the same so I’ve pinned a comment to correct ourselves 😅 back to the field guides for us! 🫣
I find best way to learn is getting things wrong. If we aren't all learning everyday we're going backwards. Onwards and upwards. 👍🏼
@@sferguk You're absolutely right, we won't get them wrong next time now haha 😀thanks for pointing them out! 🙌
Wonderful video - just lovely to see all the wildlife - especially the Short-eared Owls - keep up with the good work - just keep them coming. Cheers
Thank you so much Janice 😀 so glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent, we saw you at elmley, bit of a foggy start weren’t it. I grew up on those marshes. elmley is the last bastion of how things used to be. Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you Kyle! It was very foggy indeed, and nice that it cleared into a beautiful day! Hoping to visit Elmley again soon, absolutely wonderful place
Wonderful video😍😍
Thank you so much! So glad you enjoyed it 😁
Great video!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! 😀
awesome video.
Thank you so much 😀
Good morning, yet another gorgeous video, nice to wake up to and drink some coffee! Thanks so much ❤ looking forward to the next one! Do you plan on visiting down south?
Thank you so much Ads, so glad you liked the video! We're actually based down south so we've got a few places we'd like to do here too 😀 let us know if you have any recommendations! 🙌
Well... there's a place called Yarner wood on Dartmoor, been on my bucket list for some time now, just don't ever seem to get there. That pesky thing called life gets in the way! Haha, But everything I've heard from people suggests that it's well worth the visit! You'll probably get there before me! There is also a national trust estate called Parke just down the road and if your hungry there is a yummy farm shop/cafe around the corner too.
Thanks for the tip regarding The Plough 👍🏼 shame it’s closed Mon-Wednesday but useful stopover
No worries Roger! It’s a lovely pub we would definitely go back again 😀
What a great outing. Sounds like a few first times for you at that location. I’ve got serious van envy! I don’t think that we have anything like that under $100,000 US. We can try and convert an older cargo van if you have the skills, but boy would it be nice to have something like yours! What make is it?
Thank you Kelly 😀 we converted our van a few years ago and it's been amazing for adventures. It was an old painter/decorator's van, it's a VW Transporter. It was a bit of a project converting it but it was great fun and we love going out and about in it!
Great video. Really enjoyed it. I have just got into bird (nature) watching over the last year and a real beginner. Would be interested in what camera and equipment you use. Loved the van bits. Elmley is now another place on my list to visit. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words Peter! I have a Sony A7iii, and I use the Sony 200-600mm lens, I've had both for a good 5+ years now I'd say and they're great. I can very quickly get lost in gear reviews and what to upgrade next so I try not too look too much haha 🫣 we can definitely recommend Elmley, you'd have a wonderful time!
Thank you so much for taking the time to replay and an update on the equipment you use.
Beautiful video ladies! Lovely to see the Barn Owl and SEOs I absolutely love going on a hunt to get some lovely photos of the Owls! I live in Suffolk and we do have some good places for Barn Owls and SEOs but obviously some years are better than others! I will be going to Bakewell in the Peak District in August with my wife and kids! I was just wondering if you know anywhere in the Peak District that has a nature reserve or a good place to capture photos of some owls or wildlife?
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed the video 😀 Ah we love the Peak District, you'll have a wonderful time! We haven't actually been there very recently but we've been hoping to get back there soon and have been looking at some locations we might try.
Ladybower, Derwent & Howden Reservoirs are supposed to possibly be good for Tawny and Barn owls, Chatsworth Park & Beeley Moor is supposed to be good for Tawny, Barn AND Little Owls, then over in the Eastern Moors (like Curbar & Big Moor) could be good for SEO and Barn... but we haven't been to any of them yet so we can't promise anything 😅 it could be worth seeing if eBird has any reports near-by closer to the time to see if there are any hotspots. If we head up there before August we'll try to put a little post up saying what we've seen. Let us know how you get on! 😀
Brilliant! Just noticed the lens hood wasn’t out/in position - was that because you @Josie were using a ND or CP filter? Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much! Yep you're absolutely right. I had an ND filter on so I could keep my shutter speed at the 180 rule for filming, it was such a beautiful bright day that I found myself needing it quite a lot. I think I might be able to put the hood on the right way round with the filter on, but it makes it that much harder to adjust the variable ND if the light changes or I'm switching frame rates and I can use more/less light. I can't decide if the filter affecting the image quality at the moment though so I might experiment with not using it and just closing the aperture right down so we'll see! The Sony A7iii has a base ISO of 800 when I'm in Slog-2 so things can get quite bright 😅
👍
😀
Last time i was this early, the Elmley gate was shut
Haha well better than late and getting shut in! 😀
One duvet over and one under. That should keep you warm.
Both were definitely needed, perhaps even a third one 😅🥶
@AWilderLife when I travel in Norway by car, I use one over and two under. The latter is because I don't have a good mattress.