Top UK wildlife spots?

Messiah Khan

Messiah Khan

Santa is your dad
Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,666
Name
Alasdair Fowler
Edit My Images
Yes
Im currently being far to organised for my own good, and compiling a list of all the places I want to visit this year for photography. A lot of these places are for specific species of bird or mamal, and the time of year is obviously dictated by breading seasons etc. So far my list is looking like;

Farne Islands, Northumberland - Puffins, Turns
Yorkshire Dales, Yorkshire - Flying Eagle
Skomer Island, Pembrokshire
Formby Woods, Merseyside - Red Squirells, Foxes
Findhorn Valley, Strathdearn - Raptors, Red Deer
Donna Nook, Lincolnshire - Grey Seals
Lowther, Cumbria - Red Squirells
Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire - Gannets
Malham Cove, North Yorkshire - Peregrine Falcons

So what great wildlife out there am I missing? Ideally in the top of England, but I am willing to try and get further afield at points throughout the year. :)
 
Depends how far you are willing to travel ;) these are just a few of the ones i want to see this year, along with Farne, Skomer and at least one trip to Formby :)

Loch Garten - Osprey
Mull - Sea Eagles
Mull - Otters
Mull - Golden Eagles

Heheheheh ;)
 
A place I'd like to go, as quoted from the RSPB site:

Havergate Island ~ To reach this special location, you need to catch a boat from Orford quay. Once on the island, in spring, you'll enjoy the sight and sound of Havergate's breeding avocets and terns. Autumn brings large numbers of migrating waders and wildfowl to the area.
Click to expand...
 
loch of the lowes for ospreys (near perth scotland)
 
IanC_UK said:
Depends how far you are willing to travel ;) these are just a few of the ones i want to see this year, along with Farne, Skomer and at least one trip to Formby :)

Loch Garten - Osprey
Mull - Sea Eagles
Mull - Otters
Mull - Golden Eagles

Heheheheh ;)
Click to expand...

Hehe, I see a pattern there.:lol: Yeah, hopefully there is a chance i'll get up to Scotland, although Mull would be a very long journey.

Jo said:
A place I'd like to go, as quoted from the RSPB site:
Click to expand...

That looks good. I wanted to go to Norfolk and the broads for quite some time, but this one in Suffolk looks good. Will do some reading on it now.

macky799 said:
loch of the lowes for ospreys (near perth scotland)
Click to expand...

Again, looks good. Will consider that one. Thanks everyone. Keep them coming. :thumbs:
 
If anyone is heading up this way for some osprey stalking give me a shout will see if i can tag along for some tips:D:lol::cuckoo:
 
Tatton/Lyme Parks in cheshire are excellent for getting very close to red and fallow deer, also commonly see buzzards and kestrals...and tawny owls!
 
Believe it a not a good spot for seeing much of the wildlife mentioned above lies about 8 miles south of Birmingham.

Bittel Reservoir is a regular spot for me to see Peregrines, Buzzards, deer, countless wildfowl and even Ospreys. Yes, they pass through once in a while and Mr Oddie himself has been there for a viewing (he was very coy when I asked him about the Opsrey) Despite being on the very doorstep of what was the biggest car plant in Europe (Rover) wildlife flourishes in this semi urban escape and there's never anybody there!!
 
This shows you some of the reerves in Lincolnshire

http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/index.php

This gives even more

http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/reserves/nr/map.php


Peregrine Falcons are frequently spotted around Lincoln Cathedral.

I even have a small council reserve(3 acres) in the town of Spalding which for birds includes Jay, Kingfisher (they breed here quite happily I am told), Greater Spotted and Green Wood Peckers, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk and Hobby, White Throat and Reed Warbler.
 
Messiah Khan said:
Barn Owls are high up on my list. Where is the best place for those cheeky chappies?
Click to expand...

You can come to my house :lol: I have at least 3 regulars... daily visitors, but the other day was the first time we had seen all 3 hunting together on the field next to our house.
 
A ways away, I know, but the Dorset coast.

Done to death by landscape photographers I know but there are loads of nesting pairs of peregrins every year around the lulworth/durdle door area. I've actually watched three dogfighting for a caught fish less than 30 feet above me while paddling (kayaking) a little off the before. Two finally bugged out but the third barely cleared the cliff, t'was a big fish. :lol:

then obviously you've got Portland/chesil etc for the obligatory landscape shots.
 
PsiFox said:
I even have a small council reserve(3 acres) in the town of Spalding which for birds includes Jay, Kingfisher (they breed here quite happily I am told), Greater Spotted and Green Wood Peckers, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk and Hobby, White Throat and Reed Warbler.
Click to expand...

Wouldnt be arnolds meadow would it ? Just round the corner from my parents :)
 
IanC_UK said:
Wouldnt be arnolds meadow would it ? Just round the corner from my parents :)
Click to expand...

Nope Vernatts Reserve just off the Vernatt Drain, but the Meadow is due for a visit soon.

OOH Barn Owls in Boston eh!!!!!!!!!!! Then over to Louth for the Falcons:)
 
Let me know and I might be able to get along.
 
You could probably do Martin Mere and Morecambe Bay (North end at low tide for waders etc.,) ... :shrug:

I found MM a surprisingly good site especially if you use the staff's knowledge to get the best out of it ... :D




:p
 
Hare wood House (near Wetherby) for red kites, I have seen loads walking along the public footpaths aroound Harewood Estates (mainly in summer), they are quite numerous as this is the place where a load were re-introduced a few years ago, and have generally thrived.

I've indicated on the map where I've had most sightings.

Harewood.JPG
 
Where are the flying eagles in the Dales ?


I've been to Malham Cove many times but never seen a falcon (perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough :) ), although Malham is worth a visit in any photographers calender, some of the scenery is among the best there is.
 
Big herd of Deer at Fountains Abbey (near Ripon), and don't forget the big herds of deer at Raby Castle

Fountains-Abbey.jpg
 
Cheers Everyone.

Les McLean said:
Where are the flying eagles in the Dales ?
Click to expand...

Hehe, not wild that one im afraid. But I've arranged to have a day out with a guy who goes hunting with his eagle. Should have a whole day to photograph him and his bird as well as hopefully try flying it myself. It should also hopefully be the start of my planned ARPS collection :)

Les McLean said:
I've been to Malham Cove many times but never seen a falcon (perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough :) ), although Malham is worth a visit in any photographers calender, some of the scenery is among the best there is.
Click to expand...

Well im hoping to get tips off the guy who runs Foxdale Covert as he is also in charge of the Peregrin Falcon population. :)

Yeah, I went stalking after the deer herd near Fountains Abbey last year. I definately want to go back to Fountains Abbey, but i'd prefer my Deer a bit more wild.


Somewhat OT; Didn't realise you were a judge for the RPS Les? How did you end up doing that? Are you a LRPS/ARPS/FRPS yourself?
 
Any of the WWT like martin mere. Keep an eye on their website as they do update with recent sightings. Although some sights do update more than others. The only other comment about these sites (coming from only using the one in LLanelli) is that to view the birds on the marshes you do need to use the hides, so take a long lens.
 
Rutland water wildlife reserve. All types of waders, ospreys in spring summer (i've see 5 playfight and chasing cormorants last weekend), barn owls,.. etc, definetly worth a visit.

You'll need more than 400 mm for a close up shot though (which i don't have) but definetly worth going there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top