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Diary
Regular updates from Oliver's recent expeditions.
All images on this page can be purchased as acrylic, aluminium, canvas or mounted prints. Prices include postage. Orders can be placed by telephone or email too if you prefer not to pay by Paypal. For more details about the product styles visit Oliver's Prints page.
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More diary entries coming soon...
13 - 17 July 2026 - Cornwall, UK
Every year I lead two tours to The Lizard in Cornwall, a fabulous 21 mile headland sticking out into the English Channel. It's remarkable for its terrestrial and marine life and each tour captures a range of species including European Beaver, Chough and cetaceans. The latter is always a surprise and this summer we located a wonderful group of a dozen Risso's Dolphin and a small pod of playful Common Dolphin. We also encountered Moon and Compass Jellyfish along with a host of superb birds.
Back on land we enjoyed an organic farm visit to see beavers and so much more including Wasp Spider, butterflies and dragonflies galore. We also enjoyed the coastline too, looking for plants, invertebrates, reptiles and birds. Also a fun-packed trip
and one I look forward to every year.
Four night tours run in July and September so for more information on future tours to The Lizard please visit Naturetrek's website.
Here is a small selection of some of my favourites from the trip.
30 June - 5 July 2026 - Northumberland, UK
Northumberland is one of those county's that you simply never fail to tire of. There is so much to see and so many glorious wildlife species to photograph each summer. With visits to several castles and to Holy Island too, it's a trip that any UK photographer must do at least once!
This year we were blessed with gloriously sunny weather, although the very strong winds hampered our activities for plant and invert photography. However, we made all five boat trips and enjoyed a superb group tour to this remarkable corner of the UK.
For more information on future tours to Northumberland please visit Naturetrek's website.
Here is a small selection of some of my favourites from the trip.
3 & 4 May 2026 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Every year, I lead workshops at the Hawk Conservancy Trust and every year a new experience and opportunity arises. Troy, the most wonderful Tawny Owl, who was imprinted as a chick when it fell out of its nest and was rescued is simply the best model!
On the first day of the workshops, he locked on to a rodent in the undergrowth and caught wild prey. Despite being fed by hand for years, he was still hunting instinctively which was amazing to watch and of course photograph.
During the two days, the different groups got to grips with various settings for static and flying images, using the light conditions to maximise shots and to learn more about the creative side of wildlife photography. We enjoyed shooting a variety of species including a White Stork, Saker Falcon and Steller's Sea-eagle, which we do not usually get chance to use but also some of the favourites including Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl.
Here are a few shots for the two day's at the trust.
10 - 26 April 2026 - Costa Rica
Costa Rica was a new destination for me this year, however I had been to Panama in 2023 and many of the species crossover, particularly in the Talamanca highlands. I was tour leading for Naturetrek with the expert local guidance of César Sanchez. It's always great to work with local expertise too and throughout the 17-day tour we saw and photographed a wonderful array of species.
We visited four distinct locations including Arenal Observatory, Laguna de Lagarto, Selva Verde Lodge (and La Selva Biological Station) and Savegre Mountain Lodge (Talamanca Mountains). Each location had a wonderful suite of species and we spent time working from hides or viewing areas, attended some captive photography sessions, tracked specific species or enjoyed general walks to find a multitude of wildlife. A great mix of opportunities in such a diverse country.
Some of the highlights during the September trip included Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Mantled Howler Monkey, Puffing Snake, King Vulture, Resplendent Quetzal and Strawberry Poison Dart Frog to name just a few.
I am not scheduled to lead another tour here in the future (as I was covering for the usual tour leader), however for more information on the tour itself please visit Naturetrek's website.
Here is a small selection of some of my favourites from the trip.
23 - 27 January 2026 - The Gambia
Revisiting a country multiple times to watch wildlife gives you an added advantage of where to find it and how best to approach it, particularly if your goal is to take good photographs.
I've led tours to The Gambia six times so far for Naturetrek and although each visit is slightly different, the species and often where to find them can be quite similar. This element of prediction and preempting can yield better results and a guide to get a group into position more efficiently.
The tour in January was a good example of being prepared and locating a Black Heron in a favourite pool that I like to visit was the ideal opportunity for the group to capture its behaviour. The timing element was also perfect to make best use of the evening light and the setting sun, which create a wonderful warm glow and reflection on the water.
My next tour departs in January 2027 and if you'd like to join me and for more information and bookings please visit Naturetrek's website. For the full section of images taken during this tour please visit my Flickr page.
Here is a small selection of images from the trip.
8 - 27 September 2025 - Madagascar
Madagascar is one of those locations that you must visit before you die! That's not to say you need to rush, but if you're interested in wildlife, unique habitats and endemism, then you will do no better. Unfortunately humans have done their best to destroy a lot of the habitats in this extraordinary country, however there are plenty of gems still left to discover.
This was my third visit to the country and my second leading a photographic tour for Naturetrek. I love the mix of diurnal and nocturnal exploration and also to spend some time photographing the beautiful Milky Way.
During my trips I've enjoyed the smaller wildlife groups too and love photographing and showing clients the beauty not just with the birds and the cutest of mammals, but the diversity and stunning variation in the reptiles, amphibians, arachnids and invertebrates. Many, if not most of these species are endemic to the island and so it's always exciting to hunt for some of these often overlooked groups.
Some of the highlights during the September trip included Fossa, Schlegel's Asity, Verreaux's Sifaka, Dumeril's Boa, Aye-aye, Mocquard's Madagascar Ground Gecko, Flatid Leaf Bug, Western Nesomys, Southern Flat-tailed Gecko and the newly discovered Brookesia nofy.
My next tour departs in November 2025 followed by another in November 2026. New tours have also been opened up for bookings in September and November 2027. For more information and bookings please visit Naturetrek's website. For the full section of images taken during this tour please visit my Flickr page.
Here is a small selection from the trip.
1 - 6 July 2025 - Northumberland, UK
Following a few years' break, I returned for Naturetrek with a photographic group in search of seabirds and castles. It doesn't take much to find both here, but the key element of the tour was to teach the group on taking images of them.
We enjoyed six days exploring the coastline, Holy Island and of course the Farne Islands where tens of thousands of birds breed every summer. Our final stop was in the heart of Newcastle where we watching the magnificent Black-legged Kittiwake colony on the Tyne Bridge. The weather was quite mixed, however we managed to enjoyed some great moments with a range of stunning wildlife.
My next tour should depart in late June 2026. For more information and details on how to book please visit Naturetrek's page. For the full section of images taken during the week please visit my Flickr page.
Here is a small selection from the trip.
20 - 28 June 2025 - Shetland Islands, UK
Another successful tour leading for Naturetrek Wildlife Holidays, this time to Shetland, guiding a mixed wildlife group around this fabulous cluster of islands.
During our short stay, we managed to visit Mainland, Bressay, Yell, Unst and Fetlar with a sailing around Noss too for seabirds. We spent some time visiting a moon-like landscape in the Keen of Hamar, an incredible site for some very rare plants and for some, very small forms of commoner species.
One of the highlights though were a family of Shetland Wren who would hop around close to our heads and feet in the Jarlshof ancient buildings. They are slightly larger and stouter than those I see in southern England and they are known as the subspecies zetlandicus. What a treat!
There were also depressing moments too, particularly when sailing around the beautiful island of Noss. It is the sad reality and result of the fishing industry and the impact that discarding unwanted waste overboard does to our seabirds. The volume of discarded netting, wire and rope in our waters is appalling and a lot of it ends up in bird's nests, the adults mistaking it for seaweed. Sadly for some it is also a lethal deathtrap. Imagine starving to death over many days when you cannot escape being caught in fishing twine as it wraps around your feet, beak or wings. It does make you consider life choices and I've not eaten fish or fish-related products for many years, partly due to the way in which it is caught and the damage it does directly and indirectly to our wildlife and oceans.
For the full section of images taken during the week please visit my Flickr page.
Here is a small selection from the trip.
21 - 27 April 2025 - Kent & Dorset, UK
Expanding my wildlife horizons has always been something I wanted to achieve. Although that has meant I have been fortunate to travel to many beautiful places around the world, I also want to experience and explore more of the UK.
In recent years and also due to the guiding I do, I have been very keen to not only improve my botanical knowledge but also to target some of our key species in the UK. No surprise then that I have started off with orchids as I find them alluring and mesmerising at times. These delicate, often isolated plants require such specific conditions in which to grow, but they are one of our most striking family of plants. The other key factor is that in the UK at least, there are not that many species so it is easier to get to grips with this family as well as adding other groups to the list as I explore the British countryside.
During this week trip with Jen, we set off for locations in Kent and Dorset to enjoy some of the early flowering species. We were a little early for some and a little late as it turned out for others but we had great fun searching for them nonetheless. We also were targeting butterflies and reptiles, two other key taxa we enjoy photographing too.
For the full section of images taken during the week please visit my Flickr page.
Here is a small selection from the trip.
14 - 19 April 2025 - Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK
The Isle of Mull has always been a favourite island for me, having visited many times and going back long before it became really popular. The wildlife hasn't changed though (except for many more eagles of course) and it is all remarkable and very widespread and quite often approachable. Using correct fieldcraft and spotting skills, it is possible to enjoy and photograph many difficult species without disturbing it.
My latest tour for Naturetrek was the sixth I have led for them and the group had some fantastic sightings of European Otter, White-tailed Eagle and a superb mix of seabirds. Although we did not get photographic views of all our target species, we still managed to locate several Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Golden Eagle and Twite.
My next tour should depart in April 2026. For more information and details on how to book please visit Naturetrek's page. For more images from my 2025 tour please visit my Flickr page.
Here is a small selection from the trip.
12 March - 6 April 2025 - Western Pacific Odyssey
Wow! What more can be said for one of the most iconic birding expeditions in the world. Setting out from New Zealand towards Japan for a four week sailing to some of the remotest islands on the planet has got to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
I was lucky to be asked by Naturetrek to lead a small group as part of a larger contingent of passengers on the Heritage Adventurer as we sailed through the Pacific Ocean, making landings at a number of stunning locations.
We visited Norfolk Island (Australia), Ambrym & Espiritu Santo (Vanuatu), Guadalcanal & Kolombangara (Solomon Islands), Bougainville & New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) and Chuuk (The Federated States of Micronesia). Each had its own fascinating history, culture and wildlife and we spent time ashore to maximise chances of seeing some of the rarest and most localised species in the world. We did very well with over 220 species of bird. We also looked out for other wildlife too and during the expedition we also spent time snorkelling and saw over 50 species of fish that we could identify as well as many cetaceans.
Here is a small selection from the trip, with more to be processed and published soon.
24 February - 9 March 2025 - Thailand
It's always exciting returning to a location for a second time; partly as your knowledge of the location and wildlife has grown, but new opportunities will arise and give you an added sense of success.
In February 2025, I revisited Thailand, a country I'd been to twice before with the second visit for birding and I spent six weeks there. I led two groups for Naturetrek and saw over 450 species of bird! It's an incredibly rich location for wildlife photography, with many hides and sites easily accessible.
Some of the highlights this year included Blank Panther, Siamese Fireback, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Himalayan Cutia, Buffy Fish Owl and many many more.
My next tour will depart in March 2026. For more information and details on how to book please visit my Tours page. For more images from my 2024 tour please visit my Flickr page.
Here is a small selection from the trip, with more to be processed and published soon.
24 - 31 January 2025 - The Gambia
It's always nice to revisit locations more than once. You build up a picture of what works and what needs adjustment but also you can settle into a trip more quickly. This certainly applies to the Gambia where I've been four times for Naturetrek. It's now a fixture in my winter guiding calendar and lovely to see friends and new clients on each tour.
This year was particularly good for a number of species and we enjoyed plenty of action and activity on the sunset cruises and canoe trips. We made changes to our outings too and these produced some nice new opportunities too so well worth experimenting and trying new things.
We spotted around 162 species of bird and numbers butterflies, mammals and reptiles too, despite in being the dry season of course.
My next tour to The Gambia for Naturetrek commences on 23rd January 2026 so for more details of this and other trips I am leading, please see my Tours page.
Images for the 2025 tour are now available on my Flickr page.
16 - 29 September 2024 - Uganda
It's always exciting returning to a location for a second time; partly as your knowledge of the location and wildlife has grown, but new opportunities will arise and give you an added sense of success.
In mid-September, I returned to Uganda with a small photographic group from Naturetrek. We explored a range of habitats and regions including Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburu National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibale National Park and the largest of all Murchison Falls National Park.
The two-week trip focussed on enigmatic wildlife, along with some great opportunities for photographing at close range Mountain Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Shoebill and a wealth of other native and migrant species of bird and mammal. We also enjoyed some time with invertebrates and a couple of night walks where we found some very weird and wonderful invertebrates.
My next tour will depart in September 2026. For more information and details on how to book please visit my Tours page.
Here is a small selection from the trip, with more to be processed and published soon.
1 - 13 August 2024 - Mongolia
Mongolia is a vast wilderness with a small population and a wonderful mix of desert and mountain habitats and special wildlife. My first assignment to the country with a group of Naturetrek clients in search of an elusive cat was fantastic, with almost all key target species sought including the delightful Azure Tit.
We visited two areas; the Altai Mountains (for the enigmatic Snow Leopard) and to Hustai National Park (for Przewalski's Horse). Both locations were remote and stunning, with the high mountains over 3000m home to other delights including Siberian Ibex, Tarbagan Marmot, Siberian Jerboa, Pallas's Cat, Golden Eagle, White-winged Snowfinch and Hill Pigeon. On the lower slopes and steppe, we located Saiga Antelope, Goitered Gazelle, Pallas's Sandgrouse and Henderson's Ground Jay. At Hustai we encountered Wolf, Mongolia Gazelle, Corsac Fox, Snow Goose and later outside the park White-naped Crane.
On our first full day in the Altai, we also enjoyed Long-tailed Ground Squirrel, Chukar, Pallas's Pika and luckily Snow Leopard; in fact a family of five, a female and her four offspring, born the previous year.
This was an incredible tour and I hope to return again, possibly even as a photographic departure. More info will be announced in the future.
More images will be available online shortly.
16 - 20 July & 9 - 13 September 2024 - The Lizard, Cornwall
I lead a lot of tours in the UK, but one of my favourite is The Lizard in Cornwall. Although I've had a passion for birds since I was a small boy, I have evolved into enjoying all wildlife and when it comes to guiding it is great to be able to show people a whole range of different species and genres.
On this particular tour, I run moth traps, look for bats and owls in the evening, we go on a pelagic boat trip for cetaceans and seabirds and we visit a beaver reintroduction farm near Falmouth. We also have some stunning walks including along the coastline towards Kynance Cove looking for Chough. It's a beautiful area with so much on offer and I cannot wait to lead the next tours.
I generally lead two tours per year in July and September. For more information and details on how to book please visit my Tours page. For more images from my 2024 tours please visit my RSPB Images page.
Here is a small selection from the trip.
17 - 25 June 2024 - St. Kilda, Scotland, UK
Since I was young, I had always wished to visit the remotest of the UK's islands, and in particular St. Kilda. Who would have thought decades later I would get the opportunity to travel there with a group from Naturetrek.
Setting off from Oban on a nine-day voyage to explore the Outer Hebrides, the excitement was palpable. Our trip took in a number of islands including Rùm, Canna, Sanday, Lunga, Oronsay and Mull, but not before landing on Hirta, the only habitable island in the St. Kilda archipelago.
During the trip we encountered many wonderful wildlife moments including Minke Whale, Common Dolphin, Northern Gannet colonies, Atlantic Puffin, European Storm-petrel along with some beautiful landscapes.
Here is a small selection of images from the trip, with more coming soon on my stock libraries.
3 - 7 June 2024 - Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, UK
Leading new tours is always an exciting prospect and although I am very lucky to travel the world, I also get to explore new areas within the UK, which I absolutely love. This summer I was offered an overnight tour to the Cotswolds and also the day trips to the Painswick Valley area.
Not to miss the opportunity I spent several days undertaking a recce of all the possible sites we'd visit during the trips to ensure I was up to speed with the most likely species.
On the tours themselves, we were mostly targeting orchids, with butterflies, dragonflies, birds and plants the key focus. We located 16 species of orchid and helleborine including a stunning stand of hundreds of Bird's Nest Orchid. Despite overcast and windy conditions on some days quite a few butterfly species were recorded including the very localised Marsh Fritillary and plenty of Dingy Skipper, which were in fantastic fresh condition. Here is a selection of some of the treats from the recent tours.
For more information on my next departure to the Cotswolds for Naturetrek please visit my Tours page.
More images will be available on my stock agencies soon.
16 - 21 April 2024 - Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK
This was my sixth visit to the island of Mull with a group of five clients. Each trip is quite different despite the same targets and we enjoyed a number of super boat trips to photograph White-tailed Eagle and seabirds on the island of Lunga. We also visited the island of Staffa and spent hours searching for and photographing Eurasian Otter as well as White-throated Dipper.
We stayed at The Inn in Pennyghael, a lovely base for our five nights. Despite one very wet and windy day, we were blessed with good weather and experienced many highlights.
Along with my Canon prime EF 600mm f/4 lens, I also used my Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 for photographing the eagles and seabirds and with the fantastic animal eye tracking, it was a superb choice.
For more information on my next tour please visit my Tours page.
4 - 23 September 2023 - Madagascar
This was my second trip to Madagascar and first guiding for Naturetrek. The focus was photographing wildlife and landscapes and capturing the beauty of the Milky Way with baobabs and spiny forest.
The tour included a visit to one of the country's most amazing habitats, the Tsingy de Bemeraha. The limestone pinnacles rising hundreds of feet in the air provide home to extraordinary wildlife and exploring this special landscape was a truly amazing experience.
We also visited Lake Tsarasaotra, the Avenue of Baobabs, Berenty Reserve, Andasibe & Mantadia National Park along with Le Palmarium and Aye-aye Island. Each habitat with its own unique flora and fauna offered us plenty of challenges as we aimed to capture the beauty and diversity of this extraordinary wildlife found here and nowhere else on the planet!
If you would like to be notified about future Madagascar photographic tours then please sign up to my newsletter. I will be returning with a group in September 2025, so keep an eye out for more details soon. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
More images will be available on my stock agencies soon.
26 - 29 May 2023 - Exmoor, Somerset, UK
Following last year's inaugural tour to Exmoor, I led the second this bank holiday weekend. For the second year, it was a huge success, with so many highlights. From interesting moths, birds and beetles to plants and stunning landscape views, we covered all bases over the course of three nights.
This year we based ourselves at The Crown Hotel, where we were able to set the moth trap in the garden overnight. The food and service was very good and the owner really helped our wildlife group to make the most of our stay.
We visited a number of stunning locations in the National Park and saw a lovely array of birds including Pied & Spotted Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Common Cuckoo, Grey Wagtail, White-throated Dipper, Whinchat, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit. We also encountered lots of Green Hairstreak and a Heath Fritillary larva as well as Common Tiger & Lesser Stag Beetle.
If you would like to be notified about future Exmoor wildlife tours then please sign up to my newsletter. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
8 - 17 May 2023 - Cape May, USA
Having had a tour cancellation to the Outer Hebrides, I was delighted to be offered a replacement, to co-lead a trip to Cape May in New Jersey during spring migration.
This peninsula sticking out into Delaware Bay to the west and south and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east is a superb migration hotspot through the spring and autumn.
Staying at the tip of Cape May, we navigated to a number of famous sites, reserves, viewpoints and beaches in search of migrating birds and other wildlife with some incredible highlights including thousands of Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs coming to lay their eggs, dozens of New World Warblers including Blackburnian and Prothonotary as well as Piping Plover and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. The trip report can be found on Naturetrek's website.
Here is a sample of some of the amazing birds and wildlife we managed to see. I do hope I will get chance to revisit and lead another group here. In case I do, then keep an eye out on my Tours page or better still sign up for my newsletter where all my future tours will be announced.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on Alamy and enter your 'Cape May' and click on the blue search icon.
28 & 30 April 2023 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
This year has seen a lot of exciting improvements at the Hawk Conservancy Trust and I loved the workshops I led during the spring.
Here is a very small collection of some of the shots that were possible. I normally work with around six British species of raptor and I occasionally throw in one or two overseas species as well, particularly if they're looking good and the conditions work. Each session is designed to maximise opportunities with spring flowers and vegetation and nice light throughout the day. Food and drinks are included in the price of the day and you'll get to enjoy a flying display too as part of your experience.
I run four workshops each year with the other two in the autumn. For more information and details of how to book please visit my Workshops page.
For my Hawk Conservancy Trust stock images, a large collection is available at RSPB Images.
11 - 22 April 2023 - Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK
Following 2022's very successful tours to the Isle of Mull, working with Naturetrek, we ran two more in 2023. Apart from one wet day, which in fact turned out well with several otter sightings, we enjoyed beautiful conditions throughout the tours. Each group is limited to six, to maximise the space and opportunities to get close to nature. With pre-breakfast otter drives, walks, boat trips and a variety of species to shoot, we enjoyed a wonderful time on the island.
Along with some wonderfully enigmatic species including eagles and otters, puffins and owls, the two trips were a huge success. We also explored Iona, Staffa and Lunga during the trips, looking for seabirds and to enjoy photographing landscapes too. Thanks to Mull Charters and Turus Mara for their knowledge and expertise on boat trips we had to explore the area.
If you would like to be notified about future Mull photographic tours then please sign up to my newsletter. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
24 February - 3 March 2023 - The Gambia
This was my third trip to the west-African country and this, my first Naturetrek photography special that I was leading to the region. Bordered by Senegal, the one thing that The Gambia benefits from is the main river running through its heart. This water source is superb for the array of animals and birds that it supports, either directly for food or indirectly in using the surrounding vegetation for nesting.
Based at the super Mandina Lodges in Serekunda, we spent eight days enjoying the wildlife from canoe and on foot. We explored the local mangrove-lined tributaries of the river as well as walking the nearby forest and open farmland. We also spent two days exploring outside the local area, capturing the essence of The Gambia with its extensive coastline, gallery forest and inland water bodies.
During the trip I also gave lots of one-to-one tuition, group slideshow sessions and photographic client feedback. We covered so many topics, but the main areas that were most important included birds in flight, lighting (including backlighting & silhouette), composition and capturing behaviour.
Here is a small selection of the beautiful species we managed to connect with during our stay.
With over 170 species of bird and several mammals seen during our stay, this was a great introduction to African wildlife and photography for the group. My next tour to The Gambia for Naturetrek commences on 26th January 2024. For more details of this and other trips I am leading, please see my Tours page.
More images will be available soon.
18 January - 1 February 2023 - Panama
A black spot on my world map included Central America and following a different trip cancellation, I decided to end the omission. With friends, we headed to Panama, exploring the eastern hills, north-western mountains (close to the Costa Rican border) and the Panama Canal and City region.
The birdlife in particular in the region is incredibly rich, with over a thousand species in Panama alone. We had two weeks to explore a few altitudinal locations, looking for regional endemics as well as migrants, residents and overwintering species. Birding in the rainforest can be very difficult but rewarding when you finally connect with the elusive target species.
We enjoyed over 337 species of bird and 17 species of mammal alongside numerous reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The trip was booked through Geodyssey and I would highly recommend their services.
More images will be available soon.
12 - 13 November 2022 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Every year I run four workshops to photograph birds of prey at the Hawk Conservancy Trust near Andover. There are usually two in the spring and two in the autumn, the latter workshops coinciding with the change in clocks and therefore a great chance to capture the birds with glorious colours and, with fingers crossed, a sunset.
This year, both days with 12 clients on each experienced fantastic conditions and a range of beautiful birds to photograph. I prepare all the props and sets and give advice on photographic techniques, lighting and anything else you need for your experience.
Here is a small selection of images; however, please note clients will take a larger number of shots with a wider variety of props.
For more information and details of how to book please visit my Workshops page.
For my Hawk Conservancy Trust stock images, a large collection is available at RSPB Images.
22 - 26 October 2022 - Norfolk, UK
During late October I spent a few days in Norfolk, some with a private client photographing a variety of the speciality birds there.
The winds had changed direction from the excellent easterlies that were present a day or so before, so the rarer vagrants didn't quite show up as hoped, however we had fantastic views of a number of localised species including Snow Bunting, Shore Lark, Red-throated Diver, Jack Snipe and Common Scoter. A Long-billed Dowitcher and Yellow-browed Warbler were not photographable but great to connect with. We also enjoyed vast skeins of geese and good numbers of waterfowl and waders too.
For more information on private tuition please visit my One to One page.
For more UK stock images, a large collection is available at RSPB Images.
26 September - 9 October 2022 - Uganda
Following two years of postponement due to COVID-19, it was wonderful to finally be able to lead the inaugural photographic tour for Naturetrek to Uganda.
It is a country of wanted to visit for decades, so I was thrilled to be asked to lead the trip. Having visited Africa on many occasions and to areas close to Uganda, I was well prepared for the amazing array of wildlife, especially birds and mammals. The tour included five clients, all keen and eager to learn new photographic skills and to share together the super experience in the 'Pearl of Africa'.
Our focus was a circular loop of the western region of Uganda, covering stunning wildlife rich areas including Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale National Park.
We had some key target species to see including Eastern Gorilla, Chimpanzee, tree-climbing Lion, Leopard, Uganda Kob, Shoebill and many other stunning bird species. We succeeded in all of the above and so many more!
Following the success of the trip with over 300 species of bird seen or photographed and 27 species of mammal, we are running another trip in 2023. For more details please visit Naturetrek for full details and booking. More information and basic details can also be viewed on my website .
For my Uganda stock images, my full collection will be available soon on Alamy.
7 - 19 August 2022 - Bonaire, Dutch Antilles
I've wanted to learn to SCUBA dive for many years and finally this year I was able to travel to Bonaire in the Caribbean and achieve my goal. Having already used an underwater housing for my Canon 5D Mk III, I was keen to add to this and purchased some INON strobes.
Over the first few days of the trip I enjoyed the wonderful warm tropical waters of this small island, close to Venezuela and gained my SDI Open Water certificate. It was one of the best experiences of my life, to be able to float in a 3D world and to marvel at some incredible underwater marine life.
I started to use the camera as soon as I could and learning all the tricks I'd read about or from previous experience when snorkelling with the camera gear. I have a few more images to work through but I hope you enjoy this small collection, along with some terrestrial photography shots that I took too.
For more details of the diving and location I visited please take a look at Captain Don's Habitat.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
4 - 8 July 2022 - Northumberland, UK
The tour this year was adjusted due to the tragic bird flu epidemic, which has caused the death of hundreds of seabirds on the Farne Islands. Hence the islands were closed to us this year, however we were still able to enjoy five boat trips along with plenty of coastal wildlife and scenic photography.
We visited Long Nanny, Holy Island, Seahouses, Coquet Island and Bamburgh during our four night stay. Apart from the usual seabird highlights, orchids featured well with six species observed. Here are a few of the wildlife and landscape highlights from the tour.
If you would like to be notified about future Northumberland photographic tours then please sign up to my newsletter. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
14 - 18 June 2022 - The Lizard, Cornwall, UK
My second trip to Cornwall for Naturetrek leading the Beavers, Choughs and Cetaceans trip. This diverse adventure covers the coastline, grassland, woodland, a pelagic trip and evening strolls looking for bats as well as early mornings looking at moths! Not bad in just four days.
This year the highlight for many, apart from the wonderful Beaver sightings, was the release of Water Voles as part of their reintroduction to this part of Cornwall and completed by staff from Derek Gow Consultancy.
Chris Jones who owns Woodland Valley Farm is a true inspiration and his drive to bring back many endangered or extinct species on his organic farm is testament to his character.
If you would like to be notified about future Cornwall: Beavers, Choughs & Cetaceans wildlife tours then please sign up to my newsletter. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
1 - 9 June 2022 - Best of Scotland, UK
This Naturetrek special encompassed both the Isle of Mull and the Cairngorms, capturing some of the special wildlife of the region, with a final evening in Edinburgh. Having ventured to both areas so many times over the years, I was thoroughly looking forward to this great trip.
Along with some wonderfully species including eagles and otters, puffins and owls we visited some very special sites around the islands of Iona, Staffa and Lunga. We then spent a few days in the Cairngorms to experience the joy of the Caledonian pine forests. Thanks to Turus Mara for their knowledge and expertise on the Staffa & Lunga islands boat trip.
Although we did not have the opportunity to climb to the summit for the high mountain specialities, we still enjoyed some classic species including Black & Red Grouse, Crested Tit, Osprey, Goldeneye, Scottish Crossbill, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe and Pine Marten amongst many other commoner species.
If you would like to be notified about future Best of Scotland photographic tours then please sign up to my newsletter. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
24 - 25 April 2022 - Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, UK
There are plentiful wildlife success stories in the UK and despite the continued decline of many or our species and habitats, there are people dedicating their lives to protecting, restoring or reintroducing lost species. Red Kite, Common Crane, Osprey, White-tailed Eagle to name a few, and now Great Bustard. These birds were lost from the UK in 1832 when the last of its kind was shot. Today there are over 100 birds in a couple of colonies, the biggest is on Salisbury Plain, where they were reintroduced from populations in Russia and now Spain.
The work is all due to a remarkable conservationist and bustard advocate David Waters who founded and runs the Great Bustard Group. It has been an incredible journey and one we should all really get behind. This is changing the way we approach reintroductions and the project has been gaining amazing momentum, with Royal approval, and hopefully in years to come Great Bustards will be scattered once more in colonies across the UK.
For more about the amazing work on the reintroduction scheme, please visit the Great Bustard Group.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
5 - 16 April 2022 - Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK
I've visited the Isle of Mull twice before and last year I was invited to lead two tours for Naturetrek in April 2022. Following plenty of planning and research, I set off with two back-to-back groups to explore the island.
Along with some wonderfully enigmatic species including eagles and otters, puffins and owls, the two trips were a huge success. We also explored Iona, Staffa and Lunga during the trips, looking for seabirds and to enjoy photographing landscapes too. Thanks to Mull Charters and Turus Mara for their knowledge and expertise on boat trips we had to explore the area.
If you would like to be notified about future Mull photographic tours then please sign up to my newsletter. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
18 - 25 March 2022 - The Gambia
I love being able to fill in at short notice when required by Naturetrek, but two days warning was even a record for me! On an uneventful Tuesday morning I received an email asking if I could lead an eight day tour to The Gambia starting on the Thursday. I was definitely up for it and a couple of vaccinations later I was heading to Gatwick to meet the group.
The single-centre tour was based at Mandina Lodge and we had an absolute blast watching wildlife. Several of the group were very keen on photography too, so that was an extra facet that I could be involved with.
Following the success of the trip, I have been asked to run a photographic special to the country in February 2023, so check out my Tours page for more details.
If you would like to be notified about future Gambia photographic tours then please sign up to my newsletter.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
19 - 25 February 2022 - Cairngorms, Scotland, UK
Following a great autumn Cairngorms trip guiding for Naturetrek in November 2021, I was asked to lead the winter trip too in February 2022.
The key focus of this tour was photographing wildlife in snow and wintry conditions and for the best part we captured this beautifully. The two Red Deer sessions were fantastic and also spending time with Crested Tits can really not be beaten!
Along the coast we managed to capture some super winter birds, in particular waders and sea ducks, with a very special close sighting of a Velvet Scoter eating crabs!
Along with some beautiful light, super accommodation and food and some top wildlife, this was a very enjoyable tour. Over two days half of the group were also able to use the Red Squirrel hide too and I was with the Crested Tit group for each session. More of the Cresties can be seen on my RSPB images library.
In future trips and depending on conditions and accessibility Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare are also possible targets too.
For more details and to book please visit Naturetrek. More information and basic details can also be viewed on my Tours page.
For my Scotland stock images, my full collection will be available soon on Alamy.
30 October - 5 November 2021 - Cairngorms, Scotland, UK
This was the first Scotland tour I'd signed up to lead for Naturetrek and what a great week we had. Red Squirrel, Crested Tit, Red Grouse, beautiful landscapes and much more.
The Cairngorms are home to some iconic species and I will lead two tours a year to the region, one in the autumn and one in late winter.
If you would like to be notified about future Scotland photographic tours then please sign up to my newsletter. Further details can be found on my Tours page.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
22 September - 8 October 2021 - Shetland Isles, Scotland, UK
During the autumn migration of 2021, I led the first two tours to the Shetland Islands to target rare and casual migrants passing through. The tours were for Naturetrek and we covered the Mainland, Unst, Yell and Whalsay during the trips, although other islands are available too depending on what species turn up and where.
The islands are notorious for serious birdwatching where it is possible to pick up virtually anything from Yank birds (American) with westerlies to Sibes (Siberian) with easterlies. The prevailing wind direction will play its part too, with birds being blown off-course and arriving on these remote islands throughout late September and October. Some birds stay for days or weeks, while others disappear almost as soon as they are discovered. The tour therefore focusses on catching up with as many rarities as possible, whilst enjoying exploring and finding our own great birds for the trip.
The variety of birdlife was fantastic with a combined list of 121 species. During the two trips we recorded the following amazing species: Red-eyed Vireo, Oliver-backed Pipit, Bluethroat, Rustic Bunting, Little Bunting, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Radde's Warbler, Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Common Rosefinch, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-billed Diver, King Eider, Citrine Wagtail, Mealy Redpoll, Rose-coloured Starling, Shorelark, Snow Bunting, Long-tailed Duck, hundreds of Brambling and several Otter as well as dozens of other migrants. Quite a tally.
I will be leading tours again in 2023, so please find the details on my Tours page.
If you would like to be notified about future Shetland birdwatching tours then please sign up to my newsletter.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
19 September 2021 - Bempton Cliffs, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK
I've been very fortunate to have travelled to the South Atlantic Ocean, where I have visited huge seabird colonies, including one of the most extraordinary at Steeple Jason Island in the Falklands. Here hundreds of thousands of Black-browed Albatross breed in vast colonies as far as the eye can see.
Then we come to the UK, where unsurprisingly Black-browed Albatross do not 'normally' exist, well, except for one names Albie, who, for three years has returned to the seabird colony at Bempton Cliffs.
No-one knows where he goes in-between seasons, whether there is another bird out there for him/her or how old the bird is. It seems quite happy amongst the Northern Gannets but of course has yet to find a suitable partner, with which to breed. Fingers crossed one turns up one day...
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
July - August 2020 - 'Lockdown', UK
As COVID continues to ravish much of the World there is a glimmer of some normality at home. I'm still working the day job, but thankfully I have been able to utilise more time outdoors with the odd weekend away in the camper.
As a wildlife photographer, isolation comes with the territory and being amongst nature is a great calming influence on me. Blocking out much of what's going on in the World may seem selfish, but it's a great remedy when things are tough and nature certainly adds a much needed lighter balance to life.
I've continued to run the moth trap every few days with over 60 traps completed so far in 2020. This has given me another angle for my photography, something easy and quick to do in the morning, almost before my day starts. Other trips to the Forest of Dean, Dorset and Exmoor have all been great with lots of wonderful wildlife to watch.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
May - June 2020 - 'Lockdown', UK
During the next phase of COVID-19 I was able to work from home and during this period I completed a lot of local wildlife photography and in particular running my moth trap every few days. I have studied moths at home since 2007 but during the recent events it has been possible to run the trap regularly.
This has been a great opportunity to increase the number of species recorded from my home location but also the chance to take images of some of them. I have written an article for All Things Wildlife on moth-trapping so please read it here.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
March - April 2020 - 'Lockdown', UK
In these unprecedented times wildlife can have a really important place in our lives. For me it is essential to get my daily fix of nature or else I would probably get very lonely and depressed. Thankfully nature is free and everywhere and even the smallest outside space can attract interesting animals and plants.
I live on the edge of an urban park but it is amazing what wildlife can be found. I am putting out a moth trap every couple of nights to see what species are around as well as getting my daily walk or exercise (jogging or cycling). I've found Common Kingfishers nesting a few hundred metres from home, a nesting Eurasian Wren only 10 minutes walk, large clumps of flowering Lesser Celandine along with many other species. And this will only increase as spring continues apace into May and beyond.
Even from the house I have been able to photograph common birds which are very confiding, including Common Starling & Common Wood Pigeon. All of which make for some pleasing images and not costing me a penny. So far in five weeks I have driven just two miles to get food and the rest has been by foot or cycle; brilliant!
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
12 March 2020 - East Devon, UK
I've always classified myself as a birder or birdwatcher and not a twitcher but there have been occasions when I've really enjoyed twitching rare birds. I've not normally had time in recent years to chase rarities, but at the start of 2020 I was invited to compete in a UK year list. I therefore had the excuse to twitch a few more species that I wouldn't normally attempt to see. This has taken me mostly to sites in the south-west of England but elsewhere too where I've been staying with friends and then birding good species close by.
On one of these occasions I was birding in Devon and after a fantastic Long-billed Dowitcher sighting (soon to be surpassed by Ross's Gull!), I had one of the best afternoon's photography in a long while. The species I was shooting was Cirl Bunting and with glorious light and a perfect position I took over 1000 images. Thankfully it was a quick editing session as the best images stood out and here are a few, along with some House Sparrows visiting the same location here.
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
January - March 2020 - General, UK
2020 started with a bang, having seen the New Year in during a visit to Norfolk. Friends and I decided to complete a year list of bird species and I got off to a flying start. Unfortunately Coronavirus brought this to an abrupt suspension in March when lockdown was enforced.
By the time I had to remain at home I had clocked up 170 species with some wonderful rare birds too including Ross's and Laughing Gull (images here). The latter took me five attempts to see it and the bird posed beautifully, if not, in better light.
Trips to London, Wiltshire and the Somerset Levels all produced good birds and photo opportunities and amazingly in three months I'd seen/found five Firecrests!
For more of my stock images please view my collection on RSPB Images.
9 December 2019 - Aberystwyth, Wales, UK
I love travelling with friends, and using my camper I enjoy many wild experiences available around the UK. A stormy weekend along the seafront at Aberystwyth was certainly an interesting experience. Winter is an ideal time to visit, with fewer people around yet still plenty of accessible wildlife around the harbour and seafront.
The target on this visit was the Common Starling roost which happens on the pier each evening. We were lucky to have been able to capture the beauty of the murmurations with warm sky hues along with a successful attempt at blurring the water too.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
16 - 17 November 2019 - London, UK
Cities may be overcrowded with people and wildlife has to somehow find their own niche. Thankfully there are many wonderful old parks and gardens in the capital that attract a wealth of species.
The one advantage for a photographer is that most of the animals are very confiding, having become accustomed to the volume of human traffic.
With these facts in mind it allows you to be more creative with your images as it is easier to entice your subjects.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
2 November 2019 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Following the cancellation of my first ever workshop due to severe weather, I was able to watch the Rugby World Cup final. Sadly that did not go my way either so I simply had to look forward to my workshop on the Sunday instead.
Quite unbelievably the conditions were absolutely opposite to the day before, with calm conditions, (at times) glorious light and only a light breeze. A lovely group of clients thoroughly enjoyed the session and we managed a good range of species and images throughout a thoroughly enjoyable day.
For availability and booking on future events please visit my workshops page.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
2 November 2019 - Wiltshire, UK
A visit to Langford Lakes in the autumn can conjure up a number of late departing migrants. However, it was the common birds I was keen to photograph on this visit, partly because of very poor light for water-based subjects, but also I was keen to capture images of Marsh Tit, a species I have never had visit my garden.
To achieve a reasonable speed of 1/125 second I was using between 1600 and 2000 ISO. I was only likely to obtain static perched images so keeping the noise to a minimum was important.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
25 - 26 September 2019 - Arne, Dorset, UK
Heathland is very much a managed habitat but with so many specialised species it is one of the most incredible locations for unusual wildlife in the UK.
We have lost most of our heathland in the past 50 years so the few fragments that remain are protected to encourage and secure the futures of some of our most iconic species.
Late summer and early autumn is a good time to look for spiders here and both Wasp and Raft Spiders can be found with relative ease. Arne also holds all six species of British reptile too so it's a great place to visit if you enjoy your herpetology.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
21 July 2019 - Wiltshire, UK
Staying with friends in Wiltshire I took my moth trap having seen the forecast, encouraging my hosts to put out the trap overnight. The summer is such a great time to attract moths and having no idea what could turn up in a new location is one of the most exciting aspects.
The garden was relatively small with only a limited amount of cover, mostly grass lawn and a few sparsely planted borders. Neighbouring gardens appeared to be more well-stocked with plants, shrubs and trees and so even though at first glance the opportunity looked relatively poor there was always hope.
With clear skies on a mild evening and light breeze we caught 53 species in total and were able to photograph a good selection of these. Interestingly I picked up 11 lifers on this one evening, which was great considering I've been moth-trapping for 12 years!
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
21 - 22 July 2019 - Wiltshire, UK
Photo shoots do not always go to plan and quite often the target species is nowhere to be found and no matter how much research and effort is made in the field wildlife does not perform on cue!
I think this is perhaps why wildlife photography is so exciting and fascinating as you never really know what you are going to find and photograph. Thankfully I enjoy all wildlife groups so no matter what my target species is I love being outdoors, wandering and exploring, and if I come home with some nice images of a different species then I'm still as happy as could be.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
14 - 16 June 2019 - Skomer & Ramsey Island, Wales, UK
My birthday weekend treat and what a treat it was! Three days exploring west Wales and some wonderful remote islands. Booking for accommodation was far too late but day trips allowed great views and photographic opportunities for a number of seabirds and landscapes.
I have really started to enjoy shooting wildlife small in the frame and am not frightened to leave the big lens behind or choosing a smaller telephoto or wide-angle to shoot with instead when on location. The perspective and creative composition is greater enhanced when you can see more within the image.
For more images from these locations please view my collection on RSPB Images.
1 - 2 June 2019 - Oxfordshire, UK
I'm happy to admit my knowledge of wild plants is very limited and for me the best way to learn more is to get out and start exploring. Of course my objective is to try and photograph the subjects I'm searching for, but I ensure I do plenty of research before and after a shoot to increase my understanding and interest in the subject matter.
Field guides and online resources are so good that it does not take long to pick up the basics and begin to appreciate the diversity and beauty of the botanical plethora in the British Isles.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
18 - 26 May 2019 - Peru
During the British Birdfair in August 2018 I placed a last minute bid on an auction lot for a trip to Peru. I hadn't completed any research on the trip, the wildlife or the company I was travelling with, however what a trip it was!
A friend and I stayed with Inkaterra throughout Peru including the Amazon and Machu Picchu. The accommodation was absolutely sublime; set in picturesque surroundings but welcoming nature to your door!
For more of my stock images please view my collection on Alamy and enter your 'Peru' and click on the blue search icon.
16 May 2019 - Hampshire & Surrey, UK
On the journey to Gatwick Airport for a trip to Peru, my friend and I spotted many Red Kites in the sky. Tracking down the location we saw they were feeding in a field currently being ploughed. View plenty of time on our hands we stopped and watched the action, counting over 70 birds soaring and coming down to feed on invertebrates in the freshly tilled soil after each tractor pass.
Following on our drive we visited an RSPB reserve in Surrey and was delighted to locate a rather famous cuckoo which delighted all the waiting photographers. I kept moving position to obtain different angles and compositions and it was very interesting to watch everyone else missing most of the following shots!
For more images of the Common Cuckoo please view my collection here or for images of Red Kite visit here.
6 May 2019 - Exmoor, Somerset, UK
Spring is a magical time of year and finding yourself walking around an ancient woodland at dawn you realise just how beautiful the British countryside is. If only there were more woodlands like Horner Wood in Somerset.
Camping in Halse Combe I explored the woods in the hope of finding three summer migrants; Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart. I found all three in reasonable numbers, and with the former two I was able to find very obliging individuals to photograph. I cannot wait until the 2020 spring and hopefully take a return visit.
For more images of this visit please see my collection on RSPB Images.
28 April 2019 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Workshops are a great way to get close to many species of bird of prey and owl and at the Hawk Conservancy Trust this is a prime location to do it.
Having led workshops here for nearly 10 years I have a good knowledge of the birds, props and settings with which to shoot. I lead tours in spring and autumn to maximise the beautiful colours from blossom and flowers in April or May to the turn of the season in November when leaves are all variety of orange, yellow and green. For more information on my next events please visit my events page.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
2 - 16 April 2019 - Ethiopia
My first photo tour leading a group for Reef & Rainforest to Ethiopia and what a trip we had. The number of bird species for a land-locked country is incredible, not to mention the 40 or so mammals we encountered. Of course not all species are photographable but a great number were.
The next tour to this wonderful country will be in November 2020. For more details please visit my photo tours page.
The tiny selection here gives a taste of the quality of the wildlife and more images will be available on Alamy soon.
13 February 2019 - Wiltshire, UK
A late winter visit to the buzzard hide in Wiltshire was a great way to fill a mid-week day off. I've been working on a garage project and whilst I waited for the next phase to take shape, I enjoyed the close encounters with six buzzards, two red kites, magpies, carrion crows and a raven all in the space of a few hours.
The variety of images from compositional perfection to frame-filling action makes this a fantastic opportunity to get close to some of our most charismatic common British species.
The hide is rented to photographers and bird watchers on a daily basis and you can book a place to use the hide on my hide bookings page.
I'm just hoping there will be another bout of snow and I will get over there as soon as it is possible to do so!
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
9 - 10 February 2019 - Somerset Levels, UK
As the winter nights start to show signs of lengthening, I often take a trip to the Somerset Levels to enjoy the spectacle of the starling roost but also to track down many of our over-wintering waterfowl and waders.
The Avalon Marshes covers a vast area and within this superb wetland habitat is Ham Wall, owned and managed by the RSPB. This year the starlings have been roosting near the Avalon Hide so on the first day we made our way to the hide for the roost. Needless to say the sun didn't appear, however the spectacle was remarkable and so close to the hide you could hear the birds chatting to each other in the reedbeds. I used slow speeds for virtually all the shots on this day and also converted the images to black and white which worked well.
On the Sunday we headed to Greylake, also managed by the RSPB on the off-chance of seeing Common Snipe close to the hide. In fact we were amazed by the quantity of birds just in front of the hide and spent several hours with a cold head-wind beating against us photographing the birds. The sun appeared for large chunks of the morning which delighted us and allowed for some great action and compositional shots.
The afternoon and evening was spent back at Ham Wall where the sun continued to shine with rim-lighting around the low clouds at sunset. All in all a magical weekend in one of Britain's most excellent wetland inland locations.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
23 January - 1 February 2019 - Goa, India
A last minute opportunity to visit Goa in India to spend a wonderful 10 days with Lauren was something I could not miss. I was luckily already on holiday and so a quick flight and visa booking and off I went.
We spent some time along the coast to the north of the state and then taxied over to stay in a delightful lodge called Nature's Nest to the east, just outside a number of park boundaries. We visited Mollem National Park and Wildlife Sanctuaries at Bondla and Bhagwan Mahavir.
The birdlife was fantastic and generally very approachable, where we tallied some 150 species and 35 lifer birds. I was also lucky to spot a Palm Civet on one of my nightly walks and plenty of Indian Giant Squirrels too.
For more images from this trip please view my India 2019 collection on Alamy. When opened, click the search icon below my profile.
2 November 2018 - Wiltshire, UK
A unique experience and a chance to revisit a hide that I helped to design on a private farm in Wiltshire. I love watching wildlife behaviour and this visit was an amazing opportunity to watch the 'mantling', 'intra/interspecific competition' and 'sparring' of Common buzzards Buteo buteo.
Set on the side of a hill the distant farmland offers a pleasing backdrop to the action on the hillock in front of the hide. The hide is available to be used on a daily basis up to three people in a group. For future hide session dates please visit my hide bookings page. Bookings will be limited and only available for short periods on each release of new dates. The hide is booked for the sole use for you and your group up to a maximum of three people.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
2 - 4 November 2018 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Two weekends each year I lead bird of prey and owl photography workshops. In the spring I focus on wildflowers, blossom, props and green habitats with fresh new foliage.
In the autumn I look for beautiful colours to compliment the birds, including leaves, bark, fungi and any other interesting props or ideas I have on the day. I also encourage and tutor skills for flight techniques too.
Here are a selection of images from the two autumn workshops in November 2018.
For future workshops please visit my events page, however please note that these days are booked up very quickly so please book early to avoid disappointment.
21 October 2018 - Bushy Park, London, UK
After the drama of Richmond Park on the Saturday, I decided to visit Bushy Park on Sunday for some contrast to the habitat with a chance of different compositions. What I didn't expect was the mist was so thick it was not possible to see more than 20m to begin with.
It was therefore a gamble which direction I went in and I chose to head east, predicting that if the sun appeared I would at least be looking the right way. What I never imagined was the extraordinary combination of light and conditions that formed, perhaps some of the most dramatic I've experienced. The sun broke through the mist, creating wonderfully atmospheric images with light rays bursting through the tree canopy and an orange misty glow beneath.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
20 October 2018 - Richmond Park, London, UK
Timing is one of the most valuable assets to a wildlife photographer. You can visit a site many times but when the conditions work it can give you the wow factor.
A visit to London in October was planned to coincide with the autumn Red Deer rut. The timing for the rut itself was probably slightly too late but at this time of year the inversion of temperatures can create amazing misty conditions over the parkland. Getting a strong sunrise to coincide created incredibly atmospheric conditions for shooting.
Once the mist had been burnt off and the main drama was over it was then time to explore the rest of the park and capture some of the other interesting native and non-native species that make the city home.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
26 August - 9 September 2018 - Svalbard
Seeing the arctic in the autumn is always interesting with the changing colours of few plants, the migration of wildlife departing for warmer climes and the reappearance of some snow on the peaks.
To see Svalbard in this way, I decided to do so via a small schooner, the Noorderlicht, which I sailed for ten nights around the western and north-western reaches, finally crossing 80 degrees north and visiting some remarkably stunning locations.
With a small group of sixteen and five crew this was a magical journey visiting cultural and historic sites as well as remote spits for campfires and arctic wildlife.
This very small selection of images captures some of the beauty and wildlife of this unique archipelago.
12 - 20 May 2018 - Hungary
I have led tours to Hungary for many years and every trip I come back with a whole new portfolio of material. It really is a very special place and although I missed 2019/20 with other travel plans I very much look forward to returning in 2021.
For further details and additional slideshows please view my Tours page.
For more images from my Hungary tours please view my collection on RSPB Images.
28 - 29 April 2018 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Two weekends each year I lead bird of prey and owl photography workshops. In the spring I focus on wildflowers, blossom, props and green habitats with fresh new foliage.
In the autumn I look for beautiful colours to compliment the birds, including leaves, bark, fungi and any other interesting props or ideas I have on the day. I also encourage and tutor skills for flight techniques too.
Here are a selection of images from the two spring workshops in April 2018.
For future workshops please visit my events page, however please note that these days are booked up very quickly so please book early to avoid disappointment.
22 - 27 February 2018 - Estonia
A chance visit to this beautiful country following a prize draw win at the British Birdfair in 2017.
The prize was for three days photographing White-tailed Eagles near Parnu in the south of the country. Unfortunately the weather was particularly cold, dropping to -23 at times and the 'reliable' birds decided not to come to the feeding station.
Fortunately there were a few other wildlife interests, namely a Least Weasel which entertained us for 30 minutes or so, but having missed our target bird we left a little disappointed. For an additional two days we explored the delights of Tallinn, a wonderful little city with lots of history to take in.
For more images from this location please view my collection on RSPB Images.
1 - 6 February 2018 - Cambodia
Continuing our tour from Vietnam, we arrived in Cambodia and covered a few excellent birding sites including Preahoot, Tmatboey and Tonlé Sap. We also had chance to visit some of the famous archeological sites including Angkor Wat and Ang Trapeang Thmor.
I managed to see 45 new species of bird including some amazing sightings of Bengal Florican, White-rumped Falcon, Barred Buttonquail, Spot-billed Pelican, Black-capped Kingfisher, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker and Giant Ibis.
16 - 30 January 2018 - Vietnam
With 276 species of bird and 16 species of mammal, our two weeks in this lovely country was in species counts a relative success.
Unfortunately early in the trip, which latterly included a week in Cambodia too, I tripped and jarred by lower back. This caused a lot of discomfort throughout the tour, but it did appear to improve, that is until I returned home where it triggered a complete failure and I slipped a disc! One of the most painful things I've ever experienced and I'm very glad that after many months I am fully recovered.
Vietnam has suffered similar destruction as so many other countries throughout the World and this was very noticeable with the vast areas of forest cleared for plantations (often rubber) and the lack of species in some areas was evident. Fog hampered some of our higher elevation excursions but overall it was a pleasant visit to the country.
The wildlife and birdlife was, as usual, very special and the pittas in particular were enjoyable to watch at length.
14 - 15 January 2018 - Hong Kong
Heading on a journey to Vietnam & Cambodia, my travelling companion and I decided to use Hong Kong as our airport connection point. This gave us a chance to experience some of the Asian birdlife and to catch up with a friend who lives in the city.
As time only allowed two birding sessions we booked local guide David Diskin from Birding Hong Kong who took us to Mai Po Marshes and Tai Po Kau, which were both beautiful areas to visit but also produced 99 bird species and close to 40 lifers!
For more images from this trip please view my Hong Kong 2018 collection on Alamy. When opened, click the search icon below my profile.
7 - 26 May 2017 - India
My first big experience in Asia, having only visited for a 10-day trip to Nepal last year. India was to be special however, as this was a trip to see one of the largest land carnivores on the planet.
I spent 21 days in national parks and some 20 tiger game drives and a further 10 rickshaw trips in Keoladeo. I was actually surprised at how difficult it was to locate tigers, however once found they would normally hang around for a decent period of time!
The locations and habitats were very interesting and diverse. Visiting during the dry season allowed better visibility, however it is generally a lot hotter. I spent roughly three days at each of the following: Tadoba, Pench, Kanha and Bandhavgarh.
23 April 2017 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Certainly the highlight for the group this spring was a pair of Long-eared Owl Asio otus chicks that we were allowed to photograph under close supervision.
I used an old crow nest and built it up to make it look as natural as possible. Two handlers were on standby just in case one wanted to take an early fledging!
The other great opportunity this spring was the use of a hovering Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus being trained by one of the falconers. Although the images show the ankle equipment it was the perfect chance for the group to practice their tracking and panning skills.
11 February 2017 - Wiltshire
I shall never cease to be impressed by the wildlife of the British Isles. I get to travel to some remarkable foreign destinations, however I equally enjoy visiting local sites and spending hours watching and photographing wild species in the UK.
During the winter I enjoy visiting a friend's farm in Wiltshire to experience the sights of wintering Short-eared Owls Asio flammeus and the numbers of Common Buzzards Buteo buteo and Red Kites Milvus milvus that visit a feeding station. Lots of set-aside land and overwintering provisioning also attract a large number of passerines which I shall attempt to spend more time on in the future.
18 - 27 November 2016 - Nepal
Nepal is one of those places which you long to visit, plan for years and then spend a month there (at least!). In my case I had a keen interest to go, booked it within two weeks of being offered a trip with a friend and headed into the Himalayas for less than ten days! Crazy, yes, but what an unbelievable place and experience.
We headed along the trekking trail from Lukla towards Pangboche on a linear return route which will take you eventually to Everest Base Camp. There was no chance of us completing the full journey on this expedition as we simply did not have enough time, but in five tough days of trekking we at least had magnificent views of the tallest structure on Earth.
Back to Kathmandu for a night and then we headed to Chitwan National Park in the south of the country. This was an epic road journey in itself but worth it to see some of the rare and wonderful creatures that live in the warmer part of the country. The images represent just a snapshot of what can be seen in Nepal and with a limited kit bag too for this trip I was hardly able to shoot a bird photograph the whole time!
May & November 2016 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
During 2016 I ran my two regular workshops at the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Amport near Andover.
Once again the spring (for wildflowers) and autumn (for colour) workshops proved popular, both being fully booked. Clients were exposed to a variety of weather conditions along with a range of beautiful British and European species (with the odd bird from a little further afield!). This offered a wonderful mix of conditions and opportunities to explore and experiment with...the best way!
Using natural settings and a variety of props it is always great to see the results from the group. Here are a few of the shots I took whilst getting everyone into the 'best' position. This is fundamental to a successful day to ensure the jesses and rings and hidden and making the most of the available light.
For future workshops please visit my events page, however please note that these days are booked up very quickly so book early to avoid disappointment.
16 - 27 September 2016 - Kenya
It is not surprising that anyone interested in wildlife probably has an African safari high on their to do list. Well, I certainly did and I have put it off until now (2016) purely as I wanted the 'right trip' to come along.
In 2015 exhibiting at the British Birdfair I came across a company which offered dedicated photographic opportunities from a vehicle designed for the photographer. With a good travelling friend we went to explore what the Maasai had to offer and in particular to photograph the Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus migration. This involves tens of thousands of animals crossing the Mara River literally in search of greener pastures. The problem is there are lots of predators and dangerous waters to negotiate!
The drama was incredible and often when little appeared to be happening. The tension and sometimes the sense of death in the air was breathtaking. I will add another post soon with more images of this amazing wildlife spectacle.
I also visited the Nairobi National Park for three nights too. This is an incredible location for wildlife and if all big World cities had similar opportunities for native wildlife then we would be in a much better place for sure.
2 - 8 July 2016 - Tiszaalpár, Hungary Photo Tour
My third successive photo tour to the Kiskunsag National Park and yet again it did not disappoint. With established accommodation and excellent local knowledge we were able to maximise the sites and wildlife.
New pools were discovered this time around, which led to some great images photographing birds into the rising or setting sun (even with atmospheric mist!). We also found a site for watching dozens of Eurasian Spoonbills Platalea leucorodia heading to roost at sunset!
I'm taking a break in 2017 so I can undertake some independent travel as well as allowing the ranger to continue locating and building new opportunities for a tour I will lead in the spring of 2018. The next trip will focus on the breeding birds rather than return passage, so watch this space for more news or sign-up to my quarterly newsletter to be kept informed.
If you would like more information on future tours then please visit my Photo Tours page or contact Oliver.
27 May - 8 June 2016 - France
France offers such a wide variety of habitats, weather conditions and amazing wildlife and a relaxed two week trip to the Aude region in southern France was a great opportunity to explore this area in late spring and into early summer.
Many of the sites were ideal for birdwatching although limited for photography, without the time to set up hides or stalk the wildlife. There are a great number of species here and although the migration was over we still recorded in excess of 105 bird species and 16 species of butterfly without much effort.
For a great place to stay and explore this stunning region which includes many famous castles and wonderful food and wine visit Birding Languedoc.
5 - 20 March 2016 - Ghana
My fourth trip to Africa and another interesting, if not the most productive experience of the continent yet. I joined a birdwatching and nature tour, however opportunities for photography were very limited so if you are keen to take images of the birds and wildlife here, ensure you book on a tour which allows plenty of time to watch the wildlife, rather than tick it off and move on to the next species.
That being said, it was a friendly country, with generally good food (no illnesses), no mosquitoes in the dry season (amazingly) and in two weeks you can cover most of the country and all the top sites. Mole National Park being a particular highlight as big game is still present here, albeit not always easy to observe and you cannot wander off without a ranger.
The driving between areas can be long and rather dull as the roads are pretty poor in places and every village and town appears to be obsessed with speed bumps. The landscape has been heavily deforested and is a monotony of plantations and crops or otherwise lifeless looking scrub during the dry time of year. Otherwise the travelling was not too much of a problem and you can pick up a few species on the way too.
It is an interesting and accessible destination for those wanting to record good numbers of west Africa's bird species and in my two week expedition I recorded some 374 bird species.
For more information on the tours of Ghana please visit Ashanti African Tours.
This is just a very small sample of my images here and there will be a much greater selection on Alamy soon.
12 - 17 February 2016 - Highlands, Scotland
Scotland has always been a favourite destination to visit and over the years I have been many times. My grandfather took me into the Highlands on several occasions and I still feel this is the place I like to go when I return.
This trip with a friend during the winter was specifically focussed on searching for Mountain Hares Lepus timidus in their winter coats. This means you have to be wrapped up as there is likely to be a lot of snow about. We took my VW T5 Transporter campervan and stayed for several nights in the snowy mountains, thankfully only getting stuck once!
The hares performed very well, however we put in a lot of time with them, not rushing but allowing the animals to get used to us and our cameras. This certainly paid off with the resulting images.
14 - 25 November 2015 - The Gambia
My third trip to Africa and another wonderful experience of the continent. I've relaxed into the way of life in the tropics now and I enjoy every minute, whereas perhaps in the past I would have felt a little anxious, especially with all my camera gear!
This adventure was organised by my good friend Ashley Grove who runs birdwatching and photography tours to this gem of a birding country on the west African coast. Surrounded by Senegal, The Gambia River bisects the north and south banks and with a land area smaller than Wales it certainly boasts an impressive and relatively easy to see bird list. In 11 days we scored some 250+ species.
Photographically it is a top location too as many species are relatively confiding and boat rides can also get you into the mangroves and along the river which make birding and shooting all the more fun.
For more information on birding and photography tours please visit Ashley Grove Wild Images and mention you've come via here!
For more images from this trip please view my Gambia 2015 collection on Alamy. When opened, click the search icon below my profile.
4-10 July 2015 - Tiszaalpár, Hungary Photo Tour
The latest from my photo tour to Hungary in July 2015. Another superb trip with many new species photographed or others done even better than before. The variety of subject matter, different locations and props is great and with 117 seen and 76 photographed by the group it is a remarkable place to visit.
The weather this season during the trip was very hot, peaking at 39 degrees. This was followed by a very heavy storm, with incredibly strong winds, perhaps even hurricane force and a good deal of rain.
The new lodge is now complete so is even better placed for local photography and a number of kingfishers visiting the garden!
Places on my 2016 tour are now full but if you would like more information then please visit my Photo Tours.
If you are interested in photographing some wonderful birds in Hungary in the future then please contact Oliver.
5 - 8 June 2015 - Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, UK
I've visited Bempton Cliffs just once before in poor light so it was about time for a revisit. This excursion was to incorporate a trip out to sea for diving gannets and due to rough seas I managed to finally get on board on the Monday.
The cliffs are dramatic, breathtaking and home to tens of thousands of seabirds. The sight, smell and sound is second to none and my favourite habitat of all.
Seabirds have had a rough time in recent years with a depleting food stock, forcing the adult birds to hunt further offshore for food. This is very concerning as the demands of their chick(s) are too much if food stocks are low, the adults abandoning or in many cases not even laying. The cliffs seem quieter somehow, and I hope that their fortunes will improve in the very near future.
The aim of this trip was to try and illustrate both the beauty of the birds and their surroundings and here are a few images from the weekend's shoot.
7 - 17 April 2015 - Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Spring 2015 was another very special time for travel. I've not had many inklings to visit the Galápagos Islands as they are visited by so many tourists, however, having planned three weeks in Colombia I thought it crazy not to make the most of my time in South America.
The other timely factor was my photographer friend Hugh Rose was leading a tour with local expert guide Juan Saucedo onboard the Samba. Knowing the right people for a trip of this calibre makes for more enjoyment, not to mention having people keen to get you on land for the best light.
This was also the first trip using an underwater housing for a 5D Mk III camera. The Nauticam housing was purchased from Underwater Visions. I was amazed at how much I enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with underwater photography, however I cannot yet claim to be an expert I was thrilled with what I achieved by snorkelling and free-diving to get beneath the marine wildlife.
More images will be available on Alamy & RSPB Images soon.
5-6 & 19-20 April 2015 - Guayaquil, Ecuador
In-between Colombia and the Galápagos Islands I spent a couple of days in Guayaquil (the largest Ecuadorian city) and a couple of days at the end. There was not too much time for birding or photographic but a couple of day trips added to the ever growing list and also a few interesting images, including a flock of several thousand Wilson's Phalaropes! Another amazing migration undertaking by these birds.
17 March - 5 April 2015 - Colombia
This year I travelled to South America for the second of two trips to the continent, the first to Argentina and Chile in 2013/4 and this spring to take on the delights of Colombia, Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.
The wealth of wildlife in Colombia was extraordinary, especially with the 1900 or so species that have been recorded here, 1/5th of the World's bird species! So many highlights, it is impossible to record here but let's say an encounter with a twelve inch tarantula was one that I will never forget!
We covered the Llanos plains, jungle, river, mountain, forest, montane and urban habitats, each containing a wealth of species. I think it was one of the hardest places to birdwatch as every bird seen was new for the list, quite incredible.
Photography was also quite tough but as with every trip there are always a huge number of opportunities and potential. And as ever I would love to go back!
Here is a small selection of shots from the trip. More will be available on Alamy soon.
15-30 October 2014 - California
My first trip to the west coast of mainland USA and I thoroughly enjoyed the road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles with my wife Helen.
It was a great combination of wildlife watching, meeting friends and family and enjoying the food and drink of this famous region.
There are many really exciting wildlife spectacles to be had and I certainly found the trips around Moss Landing to be some of the best for whale watching and of course the Sea Otters.
This is just a very small sample of my images here and there will be a much greater selection on Alamy soon.
18 September 2014 - ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2014 Awards
Oliver's images chosen as category winners for the prestigious Zoological Society of London Animal Photography Prize 2014 competition. Titled If Only They Knew the cuddling Polar Bears (Alaska) was awarded winner of category 'Last Chance to See'. The King Penguin image (South Georgia) was awarded winner of category 'Size Matters' and titled Lost in a Crowd.
The award ceremony was a fantastic evening with an exhibition showing the winning and highly commended photographs. A live band played from the balcony, which set the exciting tone for the evening. The celebration of all 35 images brought together likeminded photographers, fellows of ZSL and a number of special guests including Bill Oddie. Presented by the Director General of ZSL Ralph Armond, Oliver picked up his two awards with great pride and a big smile on his face!
To purchase the two winning images as prints please order from this slideshow or from the Home page. For digital sales and editorial use contact Oliver Smart directly.
9-15 June 2014 - Tiszaalpár, Hungary Photo Tour
Here is a very small selection of images taken on my recent Hungary photo tour I led in Tiszaalpár.
It was a very hot week but we were blessed with good weather throughout and some amazing photo opportunities. Our hide sessions included woodland, steppe drinking pools, tower hide, canoe rides, marsh hides, floating hide and single species opportunities.
We photographed more than 50 species during our 6 night stay and saw and heard many others too. A week never feels long enough, but after 12 hide sessions with early starts and late finishes it was a manic yet thrilling experience.
This year our guide took us by canoe onto the Tisza River too where we were able to witness and photograph the amazing emergence of May-flies, a stunning spectacle.
Dates are now available my 2016 tour (from 2nd-8th July) so if you would like more information then please visit my Photo Tours page with details on how to book.
If you are interested in photographing some wonderful birds in Hungary during July 2016 then please email me here.
5-7 June 2014 - Skomer, Wales, UK
I always love visiting new island destinations and Skomer has been on my hit list for some time. I managed to get two night's overnight accommodation at the farm and although I wanted to stay longer this was a great opportunity to visit this very important seabird haven.
From the small harbour at Martin's Haven, the short boat ride across is enough to whet your appetite and the excitement builds quickly until you notice the 87 steep steps you have to climb with all your luggage to get to the main footpath!
With a mixture of conditions over the two days including gale force winds, thunder, lightening, heavy downpours and glorious sunshine we really did experience all types of weather.
The island is host to some 630,000 Manx Shearwaters and is one of the most important sites in the world for this species. A night walk after 11pm on an overcast evening was a brilliant way to see and more evocatively hear the shearwaters as they emerge and return to their burrows. The rain showers also brought out hundreds of frogs and toads.
More images will be available on Alamy & RSPB Images soon.
31 May 2014 - Reptile Workshop, Arne, Dorset, UK
The second in a series of wildlife workshops in 2014 took me to Arne in Dorset where I assisted in running a fantastic reptile photography shoot. We had eight clients and a fantastic licensed handler to deal with the four wonderful species we had to work with.
We dipped on Sand Lizard and Grass Snake this time around but Common Adder (male), Common Lizard (female), Slow Worm (female) and Smooth Snake (male) all performed really well. We also were rewarded with great views and opportunities for shooting Golden-ringed Dragonfly (male) and Black-tailed Skimmer (female) too.
One of the tips from this shoot was to use a polariser to cut out unwanted glare from the skins of the reptiles. It also helps to saturate some of the natural heathland plant colours too.
The species in the slideshow sequence are Common Adder, Slow Worm, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Smooth Snake, Common Lizard, Black-tailed Skimmer, Common Adder, Common Lizard, Slow Worm and Smooth Snake.
More images will be available on Alamy soon.
27 April 2014 - Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover, Hampshire, UK
Another wet and overcast day at the Hawk Conservancy Trust for my April workshop. The participants looking forlorn and disheartened at the start of the day but within a few minutes of showing my slides and inspiring them about the positive impact rain and diffused light can have they soon began to liven up.
I was also testing my new Canon 200-400 lens this weekend too and all the images here were taken with it. Other than a slight green cast it creates, which can be easily adjusted in Lightroom, I have to say that I am mightily impressed with it.
26 April 2014 - Solihull, Birmingham, UK
The first of the 2014 series of wildlife workshops took place in late April and we were thrilled with the success of the two gorgeous species: harvest mouse and hedgehog. The harvest mice are captive bred and the two used were both males. It was interesting to see their different personalities; one being as bold as brass and the other only occasionally exploring his surroundings.
The lovely Cellie is a rescue hedgehog and can no longer be released into the wild, so he has become akin to a celebrity and performs very well for photographers.
The garden setting is ideal for staging the two mammal species and with lunch and drinks to break up the day it is a great fun experience for anyone interested in nature photography.
31 March - 5 April 2014 - Spanish Pyrenees, Spain
One of the highlights for me at the British Birdfair is the auction which takes place throughout the weekend in the centre of the showground. On the Sunday afternoon the auction reaches its climax which attracts all the bargain hunters who want to snap up a great product.
The proceeds are passed to the Birdfair fundraising project for the year and in 2013 this was towards Birdlife International's work on migratory birds in the grasslands throughout America. The event raised £270,000, which was an outstanding achievement.
So you are probably wondering what this has to do with my trip to Spain. Well, amongst the auction items was a week's birding trip to the Spanish Pyrenees which we won. The excursion was organised by Go Birding and Julen Gayarre. We stayed in the nearby village of Burgui, which was also fantastic.
In April eight of us headed to Bilbao and enjoyed an amazing week of birding, something I have not done for some time. Julen was a superb guide, tailoring the trip to our own wish list and working tirelessly for some of the more demanding clients! In such a frantic itinerary photo opportunities are generally a bit limited but I did get to see several new species and others in quite unusual places (i.e. dozens of Ring Ouzels in snow covered mountains!). The highlight though had to be Wallcreeper and several attempts and lots of patience finally secured this delightful little bird.
During the six days we recorded an amazing nineteen species of raptor, Great Bustard, Eagle Owl, Dupont's Lark, Penduline Tit and many Firecrest.
The species in the slideshow sequence are sunrise near to Burgui, Eurasian Griffon Vulture, sunrise near to Burgui, Tengmalm's Owl, Pyrenees landscape, White-backed Woodpecker signs, Black Woodpecker signs, Pyrenees landscape, Wallcreeper and Navarra landscape.
More images will be available on Alamy soon.
12 February 2014 - Tiszaalpár, Hungary & Subotica, Serbia
Following on from my summer 2013 trip to Hungary I made another quick visit in February 2014 to check out the wintering species as well as a day at a new hide in Serbia. A week prior to my visit there was a good deal of snow on the ground and birds were very busy coming to feeding stations.
Unfortunately this had all melted during my visit and the temperature rose significantly, reducing the number of birds needing to get free food handouts. That being said I did manage to secure some new images and had the best views of a Long-eared Owl roost too, with at least twelve birds present.
If you are interested in photographing some wonderful birds in Hungary during June 2014 then please contact me for more information and to be registered for my newsletter.
The species in the slideshow sequence are Long-eared Owl, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Common Crane, Greater Spotted Eagle, Hooded Crow, Common Buzzard, Greylag Goose and winter sunset.
For more images of this species click here or from this trip click here.
17 - 23 January 2014 - Patagonia, Chile
Following my journey to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic peninsula, I finished off my trip with a week in Chile.
The week focussed on two key regions; Torres del Paine National Park and Puerto Natales. This expedition was led by expert bird guide Claudio Vidal from Far South Expeditions. There were many highlights of course but Andean Condor and a distant Puma were certainly a couple of the exciting wildlife experiences.
The species in the slideshow sequence are Blue-eyed Shag, Southern Wren, European Hare, Chilean Swallow, Guanaco, Porcelain Orchid, White-crested Elaenia, Austral Negrito, Chiloé Wigeon and Austral Parakeet.
More images will be available on Alamy soon.
6 - 13 January 2014 - Elephant Island & Antarctic Peninsula
On our way to Antarctica we stopped at Elephant Island. Here we observed the extraordinary landing and refuge for Captain Shackleton's men who remained for four months whilst their skipper and three of the crew made a daring crossing to South Georgia, the nearest place with inhabitants. If you've not read the book then get it!
We landed once at Cape Lookout where we photographed and enjoyed the antics of a colony of Chinstrap Penguins and then headed to Antarctica.
The coldest place on Earth, we started off wearing t-shirts in the sun aboard ship, however we were soon wrapped up once the winds picked up!
We visited a number of locations including Deception Island (where we swam in the sea!), Livingston Island, Cuverville Island, Cierva Cove, Port Lockroy and Jougla Point, Petermann Island, Booth Island, Yalour Island, Danco Island, Neko Harbour (for our Antarctic continent landing!) and eventually after three attempts Baily Head.
For more images of this species click here or from this trip click here.
For exclusive images held with the RSPB click here.
29 December 2013 - 3 January 2014 South Georgia
Arguably the most extraordinary, exhilarating and unbelievable place I have ever had the pleasure to visit and witness. The spectacular bird and seal colonies of this UK Overseas Territory are second to none. The beauty, raw nature, weather, smell, sound and sight of South Georgia will never be forgotten. Thankfully I have several thousand images to prove it too!
Our ship navigated along the eastern side of the island stopping off at numerous bays and along rocky peninsulas. We visited the Bay of Isles (including Salisbury Plain), Fortuna Bay, Stromness, Hercules Bay, Grytviken, St. Andrew's Bay, Gold Harbour, Cooper Bay & Cooper Island and Drygalski Fiord. Each landing allowed us to explore and photograph some amazing scenes and wildlife.
Also during the landing at Fortuna Bay we were fortunate enough to be able to navigate the last trekking route of Shackleton and his men across to Stromness Whaling Station where they were ultimately rescued. This was a wonderful opportunity and one I shall never forget.
23 - 27 December 2013 - Falkland Islands
