About

I have only been birdwatching for about 10 years and taking photographs for 6 years. My patch is Baron's Haugh RSPB and Dalziell woods in Motherwell.

I am happily retired and thoroughly enjoy the challenge of bird photography. If these pictures encourage people to go birding and visit these sites to find the birds then it will have served some purpose. It is difficult to know quite what inspires us to watch birds or why we should get such a thrill when we get close to these birds and get good views. Maybe you could tell me?

Some of my earlier images, kingfishers and great spotted woodpeckers were digiscoped using a Fuji S5000 and Leica APO77 scope but the more recent ones were taken using a Nikon D80 with an 80-400 lens. Both systems have their merits and can produce excellent images in the right conditions.

Mostly I hope these images convey the wonder of wildlife in the UK and the need for all of us to maintain these creatures for the future.