Wildlife photography in Derbyshire!!

[starbuck]

Hey! Just found this forum recently and thought it would be a great oppurtunity to talk to others with similar interests. I live in Alfreton, Derbyshire and sometimes struggle to find locations to photograph wildlife and would appreciate any tip-offs as to where the best spots are. I regularly visit Ogsten reservoir, and Elvaston castle, but want to expand my portfolio to cover more than just squirrels and morehens (lovely as they are)!

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi ,

welcome to WAB.

What do you want to photograph?

Are you a member of the Ogston Bird Group? I am and for £7 a year the member's hide is worth every penny, loads of birds in range

neil

[starbuck]

Hi! Would like to photograph anything really, but especially animals like foxes, hares and herons.

I had thought about joining the Ogsten group actually! I may very well do that now. I had been enviously eyeing up the bird hide reserved for members only. All the birds hang about near that one and my lense isn't big enough to get a decent shot.

Thanks for your advice!

[jazzy]

Lathkill dale for Dippers as they are very numerous birds and approachable.

[Kev Lewis]

Originally Posted by jazzy

Lathkill dale for Dippers as they are very numerous birds and approachable.

but please don't approach them too closely. They have had alot of abuse this year from inconsiderate people hopefully it hasn't impacted on their numbers

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by starbuck

............ I live in Alfreton, Derbyshire and sometimes struggle to find locations to photograph wildlife and ...........

I cannot believe what you wrote there. I live in Sheffield and spend about half my time in the Dales or elsewhere in northern Derbyshire .... I'm not struggling to find anything to photograph although in all honesty, I do concentrate on the smaller animals and plants.

A suggestion, if you can't find any 'exciting' bird or mammals, then photograph what you can see - plants, invertebrates, rock formations. Not only are these interesting and make good pictures but while you're doing it, you'll probably find hares walking across the moor or raptors flying to investigate you! I think a lot of people get frustrated because they start the day thinking, 'I must photograph an eagle owl.' ... or whatever ... Instead you should go out with a completely open mind - see what comes along, try to make good photos of the most boring subjects ... then a good subject will just turn up when you're not expecting it -
along with true love, happiness, the meaning of life and a decent pub ... maybe

In the meantime Carsington Water tends to be good for birds but for mammals you'll need to go up on the moors, generally in the less clement times of year ...

[G0NYM]

Hi starbuck
I live in Ripley and I think we have some of the best nature in the country, I don't know where you live in Alfreton but you cant be more than 10 minutes walk from open fields .
I am a newbie on this forum and a very newbie to digital photography I treated myself to a
Canon 350D a Tamron 28-300 zoom and like you I am trying to take some reasonable shots of wild life with the bits of equipment I have, the shopping list of things ie. lens grows and persuading my wife that I need Sigma 50-500 is no easy task .
Anyway I am going on a bit, what about Codnor park res and Buttterly res I don't have a hide or anything I just plonk my self down somewhere and wait and all sorts start to appear.
Good luck with the photography lets see have some of your pics in the Gallery ,cheers
G0NYM