Posted by Liam Pauling on July 7, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Hello,
I have been lucky enough to secure a Job placement with an engineering company in Newbury for my Gap Year, starting in September. This is my first time living properly away from home and with no homework I will have a lot of free time at the weekends, which is of course going to be taken up with wildlife photography
I was therefore wondering if anyone has any tips on where to go nearby? I am very interested in photographing Red Kites as I have yet to see one as they are rather rare down here in Sussex! Does anyone have any info on the Owl population as I want to continue to photograph Barn Owls and hopefully have a go at Little Owls. Is it a good area for over wintering SEO's? Would I also be lucky to find a Kingfisher to photograph?
Being close to Wales and always interested in showing birds in the environment, I will hopefully make some weekend visits across the border. If anyone knows anywhere in South Wales where I can photograph birds easily whilst getting some nice landscapes in it would be appreciated. Inspired by images from this forum of lakes coated in mist with the sunrise, I am desperate to have a go myself.
As I will be there mainly in the Winter is there anywhere near by to see large amounts of birds over wintering? Again inspired by images such as Danny's award winner.
Sorry for all the questions but any information will be appreciated
Feel free to give me an email: liam.pauling(at)btinternet.com
If Wales is easily accesible then you won't do much better than Gigrin Farm for Red Kite images.
Any time of the year is good but Winter is best when the sun is low in the sky or there's some snow.
Autumn would be good for the Kites too with some nice slate grey stormy skies.
You'll also find Red Kites in Stokenchurch near High Wycombe but the oppurtunities won't be in the same league as you'll get from Gigrin Farm.
For landscape photography, absolutely anywhere in Wales is superb. I particularly like the Elan Valley, the Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire and of course North Wales, which is spectacular.
You shoulldn't find any shortage of birds in Wales either, with Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts, Ravens, Choughs, Dippers, to name but a few.
If you Google for 'red kites in the Chilterns' you will find endless references to some of the best local areas - it's very well publicised. I can maybe help with some of your other questions too, especially with areas close to Newbury and the nearest bits of the south coast, but I'll send you an email.
hi
near West Illsey is place,where short eared owls spend winter,there is easy take pictures of red kites too(as well as in High wycombe-Justin mention before),and,in my opinion this place is better than Gigrin Farm,especially if you dont like crowd other photographers
Marek
Hi Liam,
If you come to Wales, don't overlook the Gower Peninsula. Great for landscapes - try Pennard Cliffs, Three Cliffs Bay, Rhossili, etc. - and birds include Ravens, Choughs, Dartford Warblers, Fulmars, possibly Peregrines, etc.
Otmoor (RSPB reserve) great for starlings in December,
Thames near Abingdon and Radley Lakes are great for Great Crested Grebe, with plenty of cover along the banks for a blind. the odd Kingfisher can also been seen around here but I have not found any signs of nesting yet.
Wytham Woods is locally famous for badgers, but think you might need permission from Wildcru.org.
I have been seeing a Barn Owl around Abingdon recently but still yet to sort out its usual haunts, seems to pop up all over the place.
Hope that helps. Fairly new to Oxfordshire myself so still trying to get my bearings.
Sorry coming into this one late after two weeks sojurn in Austria and Italy...
Berkshire/Oxon has been my home patch for getting on 30 years now and all I can say is that bird photography is difficult but it is a botonists paradise especially for Orchids. You definately need to join BBOWT and get their free reserves handbook.
Top of your list should be the Warburg reserve at Lower Bix/Nettlebed, I used to do a lot of conservation work over there in the early 80s it has a bit of everything and the senior reserve manager is very approachable.
The original UK red kite introduction programme was 1 valley away from Bix on the J P Getty estate land, heck even I get up to 5 kites over my garden in West Reading now. They are easy to see and more common than House sparrows but difficult to photograph when compared to the sitting ducks at Gigrin
Local to Newbury are some great areas and you could spend a whole year just concentrating within a 5 mile radius. There is the Thatcham discovery centre although aimed at school children has some wonderful wildlife areas and extensive reedbeds. The ex Greenham Common airbase is now a great refuge now the bombers have left with resurgent heather and breeding dartford warblers. Also the two nearby BBOWT woods Baines and Bowdown are worth visiting and next to which the gravel company have a hide at the west end of Newbury race course known as Lower farm - plug into Berksbirds website for better directions and a lot more areas.
Slightly further east is the Kennet canal gravel pit complex at Theale another area I have done a lot of conservation work. The complex of pits are a UK top 10 site for Nightingale and breeding Gadwall but bird photography is extremely difficult there. Slightly further east again the otherside of Reading is the Lavells lake complex of gravel pits which holds up to 4 wintering bittern every year the last 3 or so years - Dave Bartlett photographs there a lot
Regards short eared owls and West Ilesley, this is a touchy subject. The area the owls winter on is private gallops, there used to be 30+ owls across the area plus wintering harriers there but the specific downland sites got advertised through the internet about 8 years ago since when the area is continuously and heavily disturbed by county bird listers being both part Berks and Oxon. The owner/farmer is hacked off to say the least. Now you are lucky to see 3 to 5 owls in any one winter and harriers are extremely rare. Stick to the public footpaths/bridleways and discount any idea of photography, the owls are harassed enough as it is by morons toting telescopes wandering through the tussock roosting areas.
Barn owls are rare and occur in Berskhire, there is a big drive at providing nest boxes throughout the Kennet Valley, more appraochable birds are found on the Oxon downs, but again this is a local touchy subject.
Donninton castle ruins has little owls on public land, and they are fairly common in the area where there is the right habitat
Basically the Kennet and Thames valley corridor is very rich in wildlife but anything avian is usually difficult to photograph
Discussion
8 repliesI have been lucky enough to secure a Job placement with an engineering company in Newbury for my Gap Year, starting in September. This is my first time living properly away from home and with no homework I will have a lot of free time at the weekends, which is of course going to be taken up with wildlife photography
I was therefore wondering if anyone has any tips on where to go nearby? I am very interested in photographing Red Kites as I have yet to see one as they are rather rare down here in Sussex! Does anyone have any info on the Owl population as I want to continue to photograph Barn Owls and hopefully have a go at Little Owls. Is it a good area for over wintering SEO's? Would I also be lucky to find a Kingfisher to photograph?
Being close to Wales and always interested in showing birds in the environment, I will hopefully make some weekend visits across the border. If anyone knows anywhere in South Wales where I can photograph birds easily whilst getting some nice landscapes in it would be appreciated. Inspired by images from this forum of lakes coated in mist with the sunrise, I am desperate to have a go myself.
As I will be there mainly in the Winter is there anywhere near by to see large amounts of birds over wintering? Again inspired by images such as Danny's award winner.
Sorry for all the questions but any information will be appreciated
Feel free to give me an email: liam.pauling(at)btinternet.com
Any time of the year is good but Winter is best when the sun is low in the sky or there's some snow.
Autumn would be good for the Kites too with some nice slate grey stormy skies.
You'll also find Red Kites in Stokenchurch near High Wycombe but the oppurtunities won't be in the same league as you'll get from Gigrin Farm.
For landscape photography, absolutely anywhere in Wales is superb. I particularly like the Elan Valley, the Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire and of course North Wales, which is spectacular.
You shoulldn't find any shortage of birds in Wales either, with Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts, Ravens, Choughs, Dippers, to name but a few.
If you Google for 'red kites in the Chilterns' you will find endless references to some of the best local areas - it's very well publicised. I can maybe help with some of your other questions too, especially with areas close to Newbury and the nearest bits of the south coast, but I'll send you an email.
Dave
Justin thanks for the location tips, looking forward to shooting some proper landscapes
Dave if you could send an email it will be appreciated, I am currently doing some internet research thanks for the tip!
near West Illsey is place,where short eared owls spend winter,there is easy take pictures of red kites too(as well as in High wycombe-Justin mention before),and,in my opinion this place is better than Gigrin Farm,especially if you dont like crowd other photographers
Marek
If you come to Wales, don't overlook the Gower Peninsula. Great for landscapes - try Pennard Cliffs, Three Cliffs Bay, Rhossili, etc. - and birds include Ravens, Choughs, Dartford Warblers, Fulmars, possibly Peregrines, etc.
Otmoor (RSPB reserve) great for starlings in December,
Thames near Abingdon and Radley Lakes are great for Great Crested Grebe, with plenty of cover along the banks for a blind. the odd Kingfisher can also been seen around here but I have not found any signs of nesting yet.
Wytham Woods is locally famous for badgers, but think you might need permission from Wildcru.org.
I have been seeing a Barn Owl around Abingdon recently but still yet to sort out its usual haunts, seems to pop up all over the place.
Hope that helps. Fairly new to Oxfordshire myself so still trying to get my bearings.
Ben
Jeremy, thanks for the tips on the locations starting to make a nice list now!
Ben, thanks for the tips looking forward to the starlings and good to know there are some Owl's around.
Berkshire/Oxon has been my home patch for getting on 30 years now and all I can say is that bird photography is difficult but it is a botonists paradise especially for Orchids. You definately need to join BBOWT and get their free reserves handbook.
Top of your list should be the Warburg reserve at Lower Bix/Nettlebed, I used to do a lot of conservation work over there in the early 80s it has a bit of everything and the senior reserve manager is very approachable.
The original UK red kite introduction programme was 1 valley away from Bix on the J P Getty estate land, heck even I get up to 5 kites over my garden in West Reading now. They are easy to see and more common than House sparrows but difficult to photograph when compared to the sitting ducks at Gigrin
Local to Newbury are some great areas and you could spend a whole year just concentrating within a 5 mile radius. There is the Thatcham discovery centre although aimed at school children has some wonderful wildlife areas and extensive reedbeds. The ex Greenham Common airbase is now a great refuge now the bombers have left with resurgent heather and breeding dartford warblers. Also the two nearby BBOWT woods Baines and Bowdown are worth visiting and next to which the gravel company have a hide at the west end of Newbury race course known as Lower farm - plug into Berksbirds website for better directions and a lot more areas.
Slightly further east is the Kennet canal gravel pit complex at Theale another area I have done a lot of conservation work. The complex of pits are a UK top 10 site for Nightingale and breeding Gadwall but bird photography is extremely difficult there. Slightly further east again the otherside of Reading is the Lavells lake complex of gravel pits which holds up to 4 wintering bittern every year the last 3 or so years - Dave Bartlett photographs there a lot
Regards short eared owls and West Ilesley, this is a touchy subject. The area the owls winter on is private gallops, there used to be 30+ owls across the area plus wintering harriers there but the specific downland sites got advertised through the internet about 8 years ago since when the area is continuously and heavily disturbed by county bird listers being both part Berks and Oxon. The owner/farmer is hacked off to say the least. Now you are lucky to see 3 to 5 owls in any one winter and harriers are extremely rare. Stick to the public footpaths/bridleways and discount any idea of photography, the owls are harassed enough as it is by morons toting telescopes wandering through the tussock roosting areas.
Barn owls are rare and occur in Berskhire, there is a big drive at providing nest boxes throughout the Kennet Valley, more appraochable birds are found on the Oxon downs, but again this is a local touchy subject.
Donninton castle ruins has little owls on public land, and they are fairly common in the area where there is the right habitat
Basically the Kennet and Thames valley corridor is very rich in wildlife but anything avian is usually difficult to photograph
Mike