In the first of our Nature's Diary series in conjunction with the Western Morning News, wildlife photographer Richard Austin shows Jo Cole how to take a great picture. Here are his top ten tips so you can have a go as well. Why not show us how you got on by sending your pictures to us? Just click here
Click here to watch the full Westcountry Live feature
Read Jo's Western Morning News article about her photographic experiences
Richard Austin's Top Ten Tips for taking wildlife pictures
1. If you are after a specific animal or bird, glean all the information you can from going online or from books. Study your animal subject, it may give you a slight advantage.
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| Richard Austin shows Jo how to take a great snap |
2. Use semi wild animals and birds such as the swans on the Exeter Canal for example. They are wild birds but you can hone your skills with all sorts of scenarios such as the swans flying, fighting, landing, taking off and great for close-up portraits.
3. Choose the subject to suit your type of camera and lens. Using a 50mm lens for a shot of an animal a few hundred metres away will not produce good results.
4. ‘Fill the frame.’ If you're looking for close-up shots of your subject fill the frame with your image, it makes a big difference in sharpness and quality when you get around to printing your pictures.
5. When you are in close proximity to the subject, move slowly and keep all noise to a minimum. Birds and animals do not like sudden movements or loud noises.
6. Be aware of areas put aside for nesting birds, it’s tempting to edge that little bit closer but it could put the birds off from a possible second or third clutch of eggs.
7. Sea birds and Peregrines. Safety first, take care when out and about especially along the coastal paths near the cliff edge, remember, there isn’t a picture worth more than your life.
8. When photographing your cat or dog, try getting down to their level. For some of us it might not be quite so easy to get up again, but you will notice a marked difference in the composition of the picture. Most people take a photograph of their subject at about a 45 degree angle, try not to become one of those.
9. A good pair of binoculars is a must for spotting your photographic prey. If you spot something from the car window, use the car as your hide. Most animals are oblivious to cars, many a great picture has been shot from the car window.
10. Winter clothing… make sure you are well prepared against the cold and rain with a waterproof top and leggings. There is nothing on earth that will drain your enthusiasm more than being freezing cold and soaking wet.
Animal pictures © Richard Austin
In the next of our Nature's Diary Series, in association with the Western Morning News, Jo Cole visits Churston Ferrers Grammar School to find out how to create a nature garden. If you want to have a go yourself here are some top tips from Devon Wildlife Trust to get you started.
It is always best when planning a wildlife garden to start with the basics. Every wildlife garden should aim to provide the three basics of food, water and shelter.
A diversity of food sources will actively encourage all sorts of wildlife. Bird feeders are great but they are only really the start. Wild shrubs can provide berries and nuts, slugs and snails will bring in your local hedgehogs and a compost heap is a whole food chain in itself.
All wildlife needs water, and the more ways that you can lay this on, the better. Ponds, water barrels, bird baths are all really helpful and can be easily made a out recycled materials such as dustbin lids or even an old bath!
Shelter provides space for wildlife. This is vital for protection from wind, rain and predators at any time but is particularly important if you want creatures to live with you all year round, nest and breed. A great feature for a wildlife garden is a insect tower. Build a wooden frame and fill with all sorts of dead wood, twigs, stones and brick work to create a haven for mini beasts.
For more information:
Read Jo's Western Morning News article
Watch the full Westcountry Live feature (coming soon)
Visit the Devon Wildlife Trust website
Why not send us your wildlife pictures
In the latest of our Nature's Diary series in conjunction with the Western Morning News Jo Cole finds out all about one of the most elusive animals in our country side: the otter. If you've got any pictures or video of these fascinating creatures, why not send them to us?
See the Otters on the Camel (video courtesy of Tyson Jackson)
Read Jo's Western Morning News article
Information from Cornwall Wildlife Trust on how to spot an otter
There is only one kind of otter found in Cornwall and the British Isles – the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). It may also be known as the European otter, river otter or common otter. Its nicknames include King otter, river dog, ote and tike.
Otters are carnivores (meat-eaters) and belong to the family Mustelidae (possessing musk glands). The family includes badgers, ferrets, martens, mink, polecats, stoats and weasels. Mustelids typically have long, thin bodies and short legs. Males are generally larger than the females.
The otter is a semi-aquatic mammal, which means it spends much of its time in the water. It is well adapted for swimming with a long, powerful, sinuous body and a long, tapering tail used for propulsion. Its feet are quite large and are webbed for extra power. Its eyes are placed high on the head so that it can see when the rest of the body is below water. The nostrils and ears have valves, which can be closed when submerged. Keeping warm is essential and the otter has a magnificent fur coat, composed of two types of hair. Long guard hairs to repel the water and an under-fur of fine, dense fine hairs to retain body heat. Long, sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) are used to detect food in dark, murky waters.
Otter numbers in England declined dramatically in the late 1950s and 1960s. Pollution and the use of organochlorine pesticide chemicals was the key issue, but habitat loss, hunting and disturbance were believed to impact too. Cornwall (and Devon) has the highest population of otters in England.
In recognition of this the River Camel in north Cornwall has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) primarily for otters - making our otters of international importance. Otters can be found on all the river catchments in Cornwall. They use the rivers, streams, ditches, leats, canals; wetlands including the reedbeds, moors, wet woodland and still water bodies including reservoirs, lakes and garden ponds.
Nationally, The Wildlife Trusts and the Environment Agency are jointly leading otter recovery plans under the Government’s UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) – a set of published rescue plans for endangered species and habitats. As part of this initiative, Cornwall has drawn up its own BAP for the otter (visit the Cornwall Biodiversity Initiative web site). This work is being led locally be Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall Environment Agency through Water for Wildlife (WfW),
The aim of WfW is to use flagship species such as the otter, to protect and enhance our wetlands. This includes identifying and surveying wetlands, conducting species monitoring and providing advice to landowners and managers. It also includes raising awareness of the state of our wetlands and their associated species in general.
How you can help:
Report sightings of both live otters and casualties
Report habitat destruction and pollution incidents to the Environment Agency on their free hotline number: 0800 807060
Avoid disturbing wildlife areas
Join Cornwall Otter Group and become an ‘otter spotter’
Get involved in “Bodyline” and collection of corpses for the Wildlife VIC
Support the Cornwall Wildlife Trust
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