Simplicity is often the key to composing a successful photograph,where a well composed image should never look cluttered, and the main focal point/subject should be obvious.When composing an image decide which parts of the scene are most important to you and try hard to exclude any elements that are not,or don’t have a role or detract from the composition you are trying to achieve.Shooting from a low angle with a long telephoto lens can instantly simplify your composition by throwing all but the main subject out of focus,particularly effective when photographing many species of animals and birds,as shown below

When you use a long telephoto lens it can give you control of the background due to their very narrow angle of view which can be a great help in achieving a clean,diffused background.With the simple composition you have used prior to taking the image alongside this type of lens your image will be very strong compositional wise.When photographing wildlife it is often necessary to make compositional decisions very quickly as in most parts wildlife won’t stay still longer enough to let you compose the image as you’d like, so as I teach people that come onto my One To Ones ,with good fieldcraft,knowledge of the subject,listening to nature these key elements may afford you just that bit longer to compose you subject as you wish.

With the subject detecting no risk around they will relax more and go about their routine right before your very eyes,making for the best condition’s to apply these compositional points.You will also have a better chance of capturing their behaviour of sleeping,eating and so much more by giving the subject the respect it deserves with your approach,which for me is more important than any image you get.where the subject can come and go of his/her own free will,with zero disturbance to the wildlife and subject.

Whichever way the subject is looking or facing implies interest and possible movement in that direction,with the viewers eye being naturally drawn that way,therefore it is important to leave extra space in that direction,whether it be portrait or landscape.The best way of achieving this effect is to employ the ‘Rule Of Thirds’ which I have covered in my previous photography tips -Wildlife Photography-My Tips.

Arranging the elements in your picture to form the strongest possible composition by imagining a grid of lines drawn through the viewfinder to split the frame into nine equal parts,the subject should be placed roughly where the two lines cross.These intersections are known as ‘Power Points” they are the areas within the rectangular frame where the eye tends to fall naturally and can lead to a successful composition with more room in front of the subject than behind and as I like to put it,giving the subject the space to  ‘Breathe’

Composition can make or break an image for me and that’s why its one of the most important elements to wildlife photography there is,when and where possible try to get level with your subjects ‘eye’ to obtain an image that looks like you are at their level,giving a more personal view of the subject you are trying to photograph,look for the best and cleanest backgrounds,the best angle in which to capture your chosen subject.This may mean shifting your shooting positon slightly but with active birds and animals you can simply wait for the subject to move,the light should be behind you or to the side,avoid direct sunshine,the best times are dawn and dusk all adding to a beautiful image with very strong composition.

If you would like any further help or advice on composition please drop me a line here, just remember to use these key elements.points I’ve raised to improve your photography and enjoy the beauty of nature at the same time, especially at this wonderful time of year; Spring with some much to see and capture.

The onset of Spring cannot be denied now,with the warming temperatures,lighter evenings and the morning dawns becoming earlier. Spring is almost up on us,though there may be many false dawns before the days of frost and grey fog are behind us.Over the last week at many of the places I have visited there has been a real air of Spring,with birds singing their hearts out,making the dawn corus truly deafening.The wait is on to see the first appearance of the earliest butterfly to emerge from hibernation the key physical sign that Spring is here,the key to this time of year I have used since a small boy,but it is true to say the land is warming and the animals and plants are awakening.

As a Wildlife photographer Spring is the best time for me,with nature coming into its own from months of dormant inactivity,where as each day passes changes are ever present,a truly beautiful time and one I encourage everyone to just sit somewhere and listen,watch as nature is unfolding.Molehills suddenly become more prominent revealing a unseen rush of activity below ground,birds sing to attract a mate,showing off their pristine plumage where nothing is out of place or left to chance.Lighter morning,evenings add more opportunities for things to grow,woodland floors start to gain colour,with its warm colours giving a different light then that from winter sunshine,bringing to life everything that lives.

For me there is no better time to watch and photograph wildlife from wetlands, reedbeds, swamps, lakes to rivers this time of year will provide marvellous wildlife watching opportunities where you will see different behaviours in wildlife not seen most of the year.The key time for me is when the clock goes back and we gain more light in the mornings and evenings,from this point on it only gets better,better in my eyes.In Spring when the grass is short Brown Hares can be clearly seen in open country going through their courtship rituals all in full view.To see these you must arrive early,as Brown Hares are most active at dawn and dusk,if they are about you will see groups out in the open,clearly visible,with the males chasing the female as she is coming into breeding condition,where you maybe lucky to see her ‘Boxing’ with them.So watch out for them during this time bounding,leaping around open country,farmland with their displays signaling the dawn of Spring

Spring is seen as a time of growth, renewal, of new life (both plant and animal) being born,many flowering plants bloom this time of year, in a long succession sometimes beginning even if snow is still on the ground, continuing into early summer,my favorite being the carpet of blue created in April with the Bluebell.The axis of the earth during Spring is increasing its tilt toward the sun and the length of daylight rapidly increases along with the temperatures the result being new life,growth and longer days,so my advice to everyone would be when and where possible just get out at this time of year and witness the beautiful goings on all around you from the city to the country nature is everywhere as Spring is truly the best time of year.

Norfolk is famous for its winter flocks of geese, wildfowl and waders who begin to gather here to make their home during our winter months,over the last few days the north Norfolk coast has once again provided some amazing high tides with thousands of Waders being pushed up the beach as the tide works its way in covering the mud and sand flats,submerging the whole estuary.Once the majority of these areas have been consumed by the sea the birds are forced into the ‘Pits’ which are behind the beach where the RSPB have built a number of hides from which you can watch this amazing spectacle.Where large flocks of Knot,Dunlin,Oystercatchers come into roost escaping the tide,forming great masses of birds as they all move and sleep in a synchronized manner as captured below.

 

 Snettisham can be good for birds all year round but the best shows come only at the very highest tides when the birds are forced into the ‘Pits’ giving a breathtaking experience to those lucky enough to be there,seeing and hearing the sounds of this magical event in mother nature that you’ll never forget within this truly wild place on the Norfolk coast.There was thousands upon thousands of wading birds flying around.feeding on this rich mud that Snettisham is made up of,where the birds are forced to take off and form vast flocks all the time heading closer into land adding to the drama of the place with the sounds and sights of nature that you will not forget. A quiet and remote experience to the intense noise known as the ‘Norfolk Rhapsody’, a truly astonishing spectacle

 The birds almost fly as one,one mintue dark the next flashing silvery-white as they all turn one way their dark backs are facing you,then their pale undersides,in a show of coordination that is second to none,all without a signal or mishap.I have never seen any two birds ever make contact in all the years I’ve witnessed this beautiful site.The only time you see them make any form of contact is on the ground when they hustle together shoulder to shoulder.The return to the mudflats once the tide starts to retreat is a less coordinated affair,but the smaller flocks still reward you with some fine performances where I have slowed the shutter speed down creating this effect below,giving the image a sense of movement

 

   

 Its a breathtakingly beautiful site that happens a few times of the year and I try to make them all if I can.I run two 3-day trips to Norfolk during the year -Early Spring In Norfolk and Winter Waders In Norfolk where my knowledge of the North Norfolk Coast will take you to the best places a long this beautiful coastline ensuring you get some lovely images.My four-coming Spring one is fully booked and I have had a lot of interest from people wishing to go on this trip/Norfolk and the advice I have given is I am arranging one day ‘Hide Tide’ days in July,August,September where I will meet you at Snettisham in the early morning,take you to the best places to photography the birds at ‘High Tide’ with all the drama played out but your very eyes, finishing the day off at one of my very successful Barn Owl sites in the evening rounding your day of perfectly.Alternatively Norfolk has become a favorite place with clients wishing to see the beauty of this place on my One To Ones  so if you want to know more about these days, the High Tide dates or are wishing to come then please drop me a line here alternatively use my contact page on my website.

 Snettisham can be a really quiet place most of the time,with the Waders feeding on the mudflats some distance away on the estuary,but on these high tides the place is awoken with a bang,bursting to life,and for me the place never disappoints,with so much going on it truly is one of natures wonders.If you decide to go the key to a successful trip is knowing when these Spring Tides are,by contacting Snettisham for tide times this will tell you the best times to go throughout the year and what you want are the ‘Spring Tides’ as these are the highest ones which force the birds closer to the shoreline.For any other tips or questions then drop me a line on my contact page and I’ll be pleased to help.Good luck

The Jay is the most striking member of the Crow family but the hardest to see/find,usually only located by its harsh scolding screech of a call -’skaaak,skaaak’.Its shyness is its trade mark for me,this shy woodland bird only ever giving itself away while flying between the trees with its distinctive flash of white on the rump,and bright ‘blue’ flash on the wing feathers.Since a small boy when I was a member of the ‘Young Ornithologist Club’ this bird has captivated me with its mystical manner,shyness to an extreme,I’d sit for hours in my local woodland, with my cold toast,lukewarm coffee in my 1980’s ‘art decco’ style flask on the promise of seeing these birds.My fruitless attempts to track them all ending in sheer frustration,as I’d watch them jumping from tree top to tree top,with them sensing of my need to see these beautiful birds beneath them ever more frustrating for me.

 So when my good friend and fellow wildlife photographer Ken from Wales invited me over to his feeding station,set in mature woodland of Oak,Beech I jumped at the chance.He has been feeding these birds now for many years,presenting the only realistic chance of ever getting close to these incredible shy birds,enabling me to capture some close up portraits of them.I spent as much time watching them as I did taking images,amazed at the behaviour’s,displays,and dominance of the feed station,their family trademark characteristic of mobbing ever present.

 Their tyical behavoiur was to fly down,pick up as much food as possible then fly off into the surrounding woodland,bury their stash getting back to the feeding station as quick as their wings would carry them.

 

 They are such a beautiful looking bird up close,having their own distinctive personality,in parts cheeky and bold, but most of the time they are really jumpy,reluctant to leave the shelter of the woodland.An interesting fact is Jay’s are one of the most important natural planters of acorns and the distribution of several Oak species is quite dependent on their presence,so their behaviour of ‘grab and go’ is helping in parts to the successful survival of Oak woodlands,as not all the acorns/nuts they hide can be found to be eaten,resulting in new tree’s-’Natures Natural Gardener!!’

 I had a great day, learned some much I didn’t no about this shy bird,thank you to Ken as without your invite these images would’nt have been possible,with full credit going to you my friend for all your hard work over the years in feeding these come rain or shine.

 He also has Great-Spotted Woodpeckers there,that come in between the visiting Jays.I managed to capture this one while he was perched on this beautiful old Oak log.

If you are visiting woodland wishing to see Jays, watch out for their white rump and black tail as it flies in their characteristic bouncy manner,listen for the call which is harsh and loud,where the Jay may afford you the briefest of chances to see its stunning colours,be warned though,don’t bother to chase it through the woodland hoping it may come down from the tree tops,it always ends in favour of the Jay!.Good luck

 

 

On a windswept, freezing day yesterday I visited a snow-covered Lathkill Dale Nature Reserve,Derbyshire,with temperature’s below zero,there was little activity in any shape or form from the abundant wildlife they live in this breathtakingly beautiful part of the Peak District.My aim is to capture 12 months in the ‘life of the Dipper’ through the medium of photography,so we get a better understanding of this amazing bird,the way it lives and how this beautiful bird and other wildlife in this precious habitat is been affected by human disturbance,with numbers down last year to an all time low it prompted me to write an article ‘Dippers Of the Dale’ which was published in the October issue of Birdwatching Magazine and can be seen by clicking here

 

 I did catch sight of this lone male,preening,making final adjustments to his stunning condition in order to attach a female with the onset of the breeding season around the corner,and with the warming temperature’s last week,this week must have come as a real shock to the Dippers with a deluge of heavy snow confusing their body clocks.

Over the last few months since my article in October, the signs have been replaced with new ones,where the wording has changed being more precise and specific with the welfare of the wildlife at the core,educating others to the issues/problems faced by the species of wildlife here,more so the Dippers,Watervoles.

 

Natural England who run and manage the site are doing a brillant job at Lathkill Dale,with new indicatives to help the Dipper and its survival here.I spoke recently to its head warden;Phil Bowler who had seen my article and liked how it highlighted the problem,he has many plans under way for the successful survival of this bird,and I’m pleased to say I will be helping out when I can,offering my services to Phil/Natural England in an attempt to help,educate people into enjoying the breathtaking beauty,but at the same time respecting the wildlife that chose to livehere.The signs are a clear and positive, physical reminder to people/children in how to behave which is a great start.The number of these signs has also increased along the river,with key sites having a sign strategical placed so know one can miss them, an example is seen below,with the river in the background.

 

The four coming breeding season will be the real test,but small steps lead to bigger ones,as all help is good help in my eyes.The response I got from my article was very pleasing with people been highlighted to the issues there,and the people I have taken on my workshops called ‘Dippers Of the Dale’ has been great too,where they have enjoying seeing this bird,learning about its skills and behaviour’s, at the same time respecting its welfare and habitat.So for me its a great start as I feel the Dipper’s plight is more protected now then last year,and maybe the result will be the peace and solitude it so rightly deserves at the same time people enjoying this beautiful part of the country,its just the beginning,but a very good,positive one for the ‘Master of the River’ as I call them.

 

An image capturing one of the many waterfalls that frequent the river Lathkill above,adding great impact and atmosphere to this stunning landcape where the Dipper lives,and where my love of the Dipper started as a small boy and over the years the Dipper has always brought a smile to my face with its charismatic nature , and bobbing or dipping movements which I’ve always viewed as the bird ‘Curtseying’ for you.I hope to carry on helping/educating others so future generations can enjoy this charismatic bird like I have done from childhood.Thank you to everyone who has emailed me over time and highlighted this issue,where we can all do our bit in helping.I will continue to update my blog with regard to the Dippers at Lathkill keeping you informed as to the welfare and hopefully successful breeding season that’s approaching and my workshops dates for the year can been seen by clicking here.Any further help or advice then please feel free to contact me by clicking on my contact page,alternatively here.

In this months Birdwatching Magazine my images from a great day I’d previously mentioned on my blog called ‘Birdwatching For Beginner’s Walk’  have now been printed in the March issue of the magazine,I have printed the pages below aptly named‘Reservoir Birds’  I accompanied Matt Merritt/Features Editor as we visited Carsington Water in Derbyshire for this event which has been running now for 4 years on the first sunday morning of the month and run by volunteer ranger David Bennett,whose knowledge of the wildlife at this place is breathtaking.Each month enthusiastic groups of birdwatchers meet and are shown around this beautful setting hoping to learn more about birdwatching/birds while walking around Carsington Water, one of the largest reservoirs in the UK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had perfect viewing conditions as the sun shined,with a thick blanket of snow on the ground adding to a real winter feel to the day.A good number of people turned up and I captured them using almost the same composition as I do when photographing wildlife,and I must say is a lot easier!.A good day was had by all,great to help beginners to see the beauty of birds and other wildlife around this mighty impressive site,so for the full story pick up a copy of the March issue.These walks run on the first Sunday of every month,they also do more advanced walks so for further information,or to book on the free Carsington Water Walk,call 01629 540696

Following on from my previous Wildlife Photographic tip ‘Back-Lighting’  which gives your subject a strong outline and adds a great atmosphere, with a great deal of impact to your image,it’s counterpart ‘Side Lighting’ emphasizes a great deal of texture from the use of light highlighting your subject from the side, and when put to use in your image carefully it can produce a wonderful and dramatic image again with bags of atmosphere,giving the image a three-dimensional feel.A word of warning though from my own personal experiences ‘Side Lighting’ gives you the best results when the sun is low in the sky eg. Sunset,Sunrise.

Side Lighting does not work very well if the background is really cluttered or messy with lots of detail and other things going on so keep it as clean as possible, the idea is to isolate the light against your subject with a clear background illuminating your subject from the side bringing out all the texture in the feathers or fur at the same time creating a great deal of depth to the image.Always expose for the sunlit side of your subject,even at the cost of losing some shadow detail.

The way you use light in Wildlife photography is very important for the overall effect you are wishing to capture, Side Lighting is really effective when shooting close up portraits of wild animals and birds.The contours of the face are really well revealed,the texture of the fur and feathers really stand out a great deal more due to this mode of lighting.Try when possible to use the widest aperture you can on your telephoto lens rendering the background blurred,creating a smooth backdrop to your image.

In closing remember to use’ Side Lighting’ alongside ‘Back lighting’  as a part of your everyday Wildlife Photography, from the garden to the air, creating two very different images through the use of natural light which is at it’s very best during sunrise and sunset,illuminating your chosen subject from the side or the back in the case of ‘Back Lighting’.Trying to use ‘Side Lighting’ later on in the day will add alot of contrast to your image, making accurate exposure problematic due to the extremes of shadow and highlight perfectly shown in the below image of this Kingfisher,with the sun having come up just that bit to far making the exposure difficult for me, still creates a lovely image with atmosphere but you just lose some of the effect.

I hope my photographic tips on ‘Side Lighting’ has helped you understand just how important light can be and how it will change and effect your photography,should you have any questions or queries that you need answering,then please drop me a line on my contact page or click here and I will be more than pleased to answer them.

Having returned to my Barn Owl site over the last few days, where I’d previously watched and photographed this beautiful male Barn Owl hunt for food during the country’s really cold weather last month,I was delighted to see the male hunting but at the same time quite bemused as it was raining,with the rain falling as sleet,a behaviour I’ve never seen before in Barn Owls due to it’s hazardous nature.The structure of an adult Barn Owl’s feathers make them perfectly adapted for silent flight,but this makes them prone to waterlogging so consequently they are not suited to hunting in wet weather.The key to an owl’s silent flight is in its feathers, the next time you find an owl feather, turn it on its side and look at the edge — the line of fibers is scalloped, like a stretched seam. The slight alteration in shape allows the feather to cut the air without making sound,making them perfectly aerodynamic.

Hunting is certainly more difficult in these testing conditions, as sound as well as sight are hindered in locating small mammals due to the rain.I watched him hunt for about two hours with little success,the wind buffeting him around like a kite ,expelling loads of energy in the process.There was no sign of the female so I presume he’s alone and may probably move on shortly.I really hope not as I have become quite fond of this very resilient Owl.I also have received a lot of ‘Fan’ emails asking if he survived the recent cold snap which I covered in my first ‘Barn Owl’ post,so thank you to those people and here is the proof that he’s alive and kicking and his plumage is in stunning conditon with the onset of the breeding season around the corner.

And what seems to becoming customary now when I go out photographing of late is the ever presence of Stonechats,whether it be male or female they seem to always find me,and keep me company.The image below is of a female who was really intrigued by me,capturing the mood of the day with the inclusion of the weather conditions in the background.

 

The following is a list of useful Tips, which will help to increase your chances of successful Owl watching:

Wear dark, quiet clothes

Get to know the area during daylight, and establish the most suitable areas of habitat for the species that you are hoping to observe (i.e. where they are most likely to hunt)

If you suspect that an area is being used as a roost or nest site you must not disturb it, but watch from a safe distance

When watching a nocturnal species, arrive at your observation position before dusk – this will allow for your eyes to become gradually accustomed to the gathering darkness, and will ensure that you are ready and settled before the owls emerge

Do not disturb the birds in any way – remain hidden at all times

If you accidentally stray close to a nest, move quickly and quietly away as Barn Owls have Schedule 1 protection status

I have really enjoyed my close encounters with this tough,hardy male Barn Owl and if he remains in this area I will look forward to photographing him,even better if he attracts a mate and breeds I’ll have another long term project to concentrate on with the images being displayed on future blogs-fingers crossed.I hope you’ve enjoyed the trails,tribulations of this owl documented in my blogs as much as I have on the ground.

National Nest Box week organised by The British Trust for Ornithology takes place this year from the 14^th to 21^stFebruary. Since its launch in 1998 over five million nest boxes have been made and hung in gardens and woodland areas across the UK.In an attempt to help birds ranging from the Blue Tit right up to Barn Owls to find somewhere else to nest and raise their young in the absence of more natural nest sites in our ever diminishing countryside.Early spring is the best time to site your nestbox,giving the birds a chance to see and get use to the box,if they don’t use your nestbox to nest in then don’t be saddened as there is a very high chance they will use the box as a roost site during the winter months.

There will be events staged all around the UK by the BTO during that week and it’s a great way to get youngsters involved with nature.Click here for the BTO home page to see whats happening in your local area.Whether you’re a family with space for a box in your garden, a teacher, a member of a local wildlife group, or you belong to a bird club and could organise a work party, National Nest Box Week gives you the chance to contribute to the conservation effort in the UK whilst giving you the pleasure of observing any breeding birds that you attract to your garden.

Where you put your box is every bit as important as what it looks like.  The highest priority when siting a nest box must be to provide a safe and comfortable environment in which birds can nest successfully.Ensure your nest box is sheltered from prevailing wind, rain and strong sunlight,The front of the nest box should be angled vertically or slightly downwards to prevent rain from entering the nest box.And the most important point is to ensure that it is not easily accessible to predators (cats and squirrels) which can more difficult than you’d think.Ideally keeping the opportunities for these predators to get close to the boxes to a minimal.

For a free information pack please click here and fill in your details.If you’d like to purchase a nestbox then click here.Many thanks.

On the promise of a high tide of 10m+ yesterday I visited ‘Parkgate’ on the Dee Estuary,Wirral,a 100 kilometre stretch of salt marshland.Little did I know how different this day would be to the many other hide tides I’ve attended over the years that didn’t really measure up to their name.The day started beautifully,with the sun shining bright and that crisp feel to the air.I had decided to hide within the reedbeds,choosing the highest point as not to be flooded out with the promised high tide.This beautiful female Stonechat came right up to me in her pursuit to see what I was hiding away in her territory,she stayed for a very brief second where I managed to capture a few portraits of her in the morning light as she perched on top of the reeds.

The beautiful sunshine was soon replaced with dark,angry looking clouds as you could see this weather front heading in shore alongside the predicted high tide around lunchtime.Very slowly at first the tide started coming in,over the years I’ve attended these promised high tides I ‘ve always been disappointed at how little they come in,while I’ve waited to photograph the many raptors that live and hunt over these marshes.With the wind picking up and the distant activity of the flocks of waders,ducks taking to the air as the encroaching tide covered their usual roosting spots,this felt different and indicated this day may measure up to its title.

As the water breaks over the edges of the marsh,flooding the small gullies it brings the wildlife closer to you,the birds start to take flight to avoid the oncoming tide,and waiting predators,small mammals retreat to higher ground escaping the high tide briefly as they’ll be forced to move again later on.With all this wildlife moving it attracts  predators in vast numbers, ie Gulls,Crows,Rooks,Kestrels,Peregrine Falcons ,Short-eared Owls,and many more all waiting for mother nature to do their work for them in locating prey,giving away their positions as they flee the water,then swoop down for the easy pickings,as they are to preoccupied in survival, a cruel trick of nature for the small mammals you never normally see.A Short-eared Owl waits for movement as the tide is seen covering the land below.

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Ground predators get involved in this bounty to,this Fox had gone out before the tide had reached it’s peak to feast on one of the easiest meals he’ll have during the year.Unfortunately he became cut off from the mainland,preoccupied in feeding.I managed to capture a few images of this moment,also with a short film showing him wet, shivering and freezing with one of the main gullies of water being fed by the tidal currents in front of him.Forcing him to stay put rather than chance swimming for the shore and being swept away in the very strong currents

 

He did however escape later on as the tide went out and the sun came out the image below shows him fleeing,hopefully having learnt his lesson.

As the available land diminishes beneath the sea water, the mass of tiny,furry creatures with their disheveled coats cling onto the last high ground in an attempt of steer desperation as the tide reaches its height,the last remains of vegetation are covered with the lucky ones who’ve made it to the walls of the reserve,the less unfortunate ones have either drown or been pick off by the predators.Below are a few images I took as the rodents-Field Vole,Common Shrew, made their way to the shoreline where I was standing,the brick wall of the reserve can be seen in some.I did help to fish out a few with a make shift pole made out of reed as some looked up at me I was concerned I’d give them a heart attack, but it was better than seeing them drown.

These where the unlucky ones below,mother nature I know but on such a large scale as this day it shocked me to the core.

I went to Parkgate yesterday with a clear mission to photograph Short-eared Owls and other raptors feeding on this plentiful bounty which hide tide gives them a few times a year,what I came away with was a real story of survival and suffering on one hand ,on the other the power of nature and the food chain stained by the days events for me.The hide tides attracts alot people,yesterday being no exception of which most where unaware of this suffering around/below them as they ticked of the number of birds they’d seen,with the ever present thrust of seeing new species at the forefront of the minds.I needless to say went home really saddened by what I had seen during the day and I have tried to convey that here with the images I took on the day, almost like a reporter capturing someone in their final hours.It was the first time in 3 years I had seen a tide so high, helped along by the wind reach the shoreline in this manner,with the winners and losers played out before my very eyes,to watch animals forced into this ‘Do or Die’ sacrifice was hard for me to stomach as a wildlife photographer where the welfare of nature becomes before anything.