Afternoon from Essex

shadowx · #1 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 11:16 AM

A bit belated really, been reading around the forums a bit but nontheless...

I am Chris, from Essex (RM post code area

)

Been in to wildlife and nature since was a kid making camps and such and now I have my own means I have a chance to explore a little more.

I do a bit of photography (though not as much as the price tag suggests i should!) work in computers and unfortunately live in a flat...

Really want to test my skills in a bit of wildlife film making and my goal is to eventually find and film/photograph badgers and other rarely seen wildlife like our reptiles and birds of prey. I say rarely... If you go looking in the right places you can easily see kestrels, badger/fox trails and ive stumbled across a couple of snakes too, I just get disappointed watching all the nature documentaries that are about lions and elephants, really doesnt interest me! Show me a kestrel making a kill or an adder moving through the undergrowth and im hooked.

I will get some of my photos online at some point, not much in the way of wildlife but plenty of nature in general, until then...

Deb London · #2 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 11:18 AM

Hi Phil,

Welcome to WAB

I know what you mean about the lions.

Deb

Kreacha · #3 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deb London

Hi Phil

Who's Phil Deb?

Hi Chris

Welcome to WAB. Look forward to reading your posts

david156 · #4 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 04:07 PM

Welcome to WAB Chris.
I was born and raised in the RM area of Essex too and spent many happy hours trespassing in the Ingrebourne valley before it was a country park!

sunnydale · #5 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 04:12 PM

Hi Chris and welcome to WAB!

Hope you enjoy your time here,

Tracey

shadowx · #6 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 09:29 PM

Thanking you!

I love the Ingrebourne valley, used to cycle through there a fair bit and now take my friends dog for a walk, also used to fish the river and for a sorry looking stream it has some big fish, not that I've had the pleasure of meeting them!

I have loads of photos of it on my Flickr which I will link in my sig eventually (doesnt seem like the rules prohibit it...)

Between the Ingrebourne alley/Hornchurch country park, Bellhus woods and Epping/Hainault we are pretty well served really, just wish there was more actual wilderness, though a bit of geocaching and 3 hours later in Epping forest certainly gives the impression of the wilderness

david156 · #7 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 09:43 PM

Belhus woods! Forgot about that place. Started birding there when I was about fifteen. Would get a lift down early on a Sunday morning and then get picked up at 10.
It was a fairly new country park then and didn't get many visitors. Bet its busy now!

shadowx · #8 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 09:50 PM

It's not too bad but a sunny day it does get busy. £2.20 to park though!!

Went over there about half 5 with my mates dog, i can tell you the Canadian Geese are doing well! 5 or 6 big family groups and plenty of squirrels. I am tempted to take my camera down there for a few hours but parking a motorbike is a pain, especially securing all my clothing etc...

chazzpott · #9 (**permalink**) 20-05-2011, 11:28 PM

Hi there Chris and welcome to WAB.
Belhus woods is one of my stamping grounds. I get over there from time to time, mainly in the spring and autumn, as it's a good place for fungi.
And yes, it does get busy at weekends, more so when the weather's good.

Maybe a few of us locals could have a WAB meet there sometime.

Charlie.

PS. Have a word with Rob, one of the rangers. He might be able to help you re your bike gear. He's a decent, helpful chap.

WILDWORT · #10 (**permalink**) 05-06-2011, 06:17 PM

How do bud,
I spend a lot of time at Davy Downs,which is split in two by the Mardyke,one half is open to the public and the other half is fenced off but i have permission to roam and there is always plenty to see if you can slow down to natures pace.