Weeks before our Yorkshire trip, I had looked up some opportunities to photograph wildlife while we were there.
Arranging the session
There are plenty of options but I chose Paul Fowlie and got in touch. After a few emails, Paul got myself and Kathryn booked in to see the red squirrels.
I thought this booking would have a good chance of getting some potential club competition shots, and I knew Kathryn had been disappointed not to see any red squirrels when we were in Anglesey last year.
We were going to be an hour’s drive from the meet location so it meant an early get up. Paul was away on a wildlife trip so we met his friend Rob in a nearby village at 08:30 (we were late as usual) and followed him out to the location… all ‘secret squirrel’ I suppose! 😄
Kit
In terms of lenses, I had a 100-400mm which was the main one I used, and a 24-120mm for some closer wide shots. But Paul gives you recommendations which you can then match against what you’ve got. Most of my shots where in the 250-350 range so if you have a zoom lens then you’re going to get some decent shots.
The Hides
We then walked to the location where a couple of hides were visible. We walked past the hides and straight to the two bulky posts with a mossy top which was the set up to grab shots of the squirrels jumping in the air.
The Jumping Stage
I set up my tripod and camera in the marked position, and Rob gave me some advice on settings. The nearest post has a pvc cover over its trunk to prevent the squirrels simply climbing up and grabbing the nuts.
Rob then places some nuts down on the nearest post, helps me to focus by holding his hand up roughly where the squirrel will be mid-air, and then we wait.
Once a squirrel approaches, it’s clear that it’s highly likely to climb up the post, and sure enough, the first one approaches, runs up to the top of the first post, peers up, pauses and then leaps across to the opposite post.
Within seconds, the squirrel makes the leap. It grabs a nut, pauses then turns around and leaps back.
I had several attempts at getting some shots as the squirrel makes its leap from one post to another. The shots below are two of the captures.
On a nearby wall, Kathryn was able to hold out her hand with a nut, and the squirrel came up and grabbed it out of her hand. She also got a superb shot from her phone.
Photography Learning from the Jumping Stage
This all sounds so simple and probably risks the accusation of all being there for you to just grab a superb capture. However, this was new to me and I missed a lot of shots due to:
* Not RTFM before I came on this trip – I had Paul’s book to hand which I hadn’t really looked at properly – since we’ve been home, I’ve had a closer look to find shots and recommended settings!
* Mistakenly focusing on the platform and missing focus on the squirrel – I did this a few times which meant early on I got plenty of blurry squirrel shots
* I could’ve set a wider aperture to keep my ISO down and minimise noise, and I did for some later shots without losing anything in detail
* Not perfecting my technique enough to capture fast leaping squirrels – I think I ought to cut myself a little slack as I’ve never photographed them before
* Spending too long getting a jumping shot so no time for sideways shot – I was so determined to get something decent here, I ran out of time to get a side-on shot
* Not zooming in more (I just can’t explain why I didn’t) so later on back home I realise I’m having to crop far too much so losing image quality
* I could’ve ditched the tripod and tried shooting handheld.
First Hide
The first hide has an elevated long tree branch that forms a walking platform and further back a rope between two trees. We set up here and Rob went out to place some nuts nearby. The squirrels obviously know Rob as they were quick to race out and grab the nuts before he’d even finished.
I got various shots here and we enjoyed just sitting and watching the squirrels play around, grab nuts, inspect them, hide them, then come back for more.
Photography Learning from the first hide
The learning from this hide was mainly to sit still rather than rush around each window of the hide.
In our excitement of what was going on, we were both calling out situations that could be photographed, and a few times I missed one good shot by getting caught between different windows and two or more potential shots.
Reflection Hide
Rob then showed us to the reflection pool hide where there are two seats that overlook the water pool.
Some strategically placed nuts means the squirrels soon appear and there are plenty of photo opportunities.
We were approaching lunchtime so Rob left us to it for a while, and we loved sitting there watching the squirrels come and go while we broke into our packed lunches.
One of squirrels actually came right up to the open window in front of us and attempted to open the tub of nuts.
Other wildlife
While we were there, we also got to see close ups of a pheasant and several chaffinches which was a bonus.
Photography Learning from the Reflection Pool
My learning from this hide was that I had put on my shorter 24-120 lens to get closer shots with a wide angle however, for shots at the back of pool, I was using crop mode when I should’ve kept in full frame mode, or switched to the 100-400 lens in order not to lose some pixels.
I have some great captures with the 24-120 but the image quality with the crop mode activated is half the resolution what it could’ve been so image quality isn’t as great.
Woodland Shots
With various props or features in the woodland, there is a large choice of shots.
Final thoughts
At times, there are several squirrels all running around doing something worth photographing. This can lead to you trying to quickly change from one to another. The best thing to do is sit still, and grab some images as the moments come and go.
As the time came for us to leave, we had a lengthy chat with Rob thanking him for chaperoning us. Then as he had spotted the canaries badge on the back of our car, and he’s a “Baggie” (West Brom fan), we had a chat about the respective fortunes of our football clubs.
As it happens, Norwich had just recently played West Brom and the canaries had gifted the easiest three points they could possibly do! After a lengthy chat about self-funding clubs vs rich owners, we thought we had better call it a day.
This visit to see red squirrels had been so enjoyable and the time went so quickly. It was very much worth paying for and getting up early. Kathryn and I both said we would do it again.
I would highly recommend Paul’s wildlife experiences, and will most certainly be looking to book again.
Onwards and upwards…