How to Build a Bird Hide - for Bird Photography

[@CamillaI]

A small garden shed would be easier, or hire a woodland hide, but great workmanship, if you add a carpenter £150 a day round here . Still you dont have all the fun. Well done lets see what you get. I am doing some work on my garden this Xmas. Just had a Green Woodpecker on the lawn today.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I have put up sheds before - it's a good option. Green woodpecker - you are lucky.

[@susanwhite7705]

Just got to watch this! Now looking forward to seeing your shots from the hide.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks Susan. There's a few images from the hide in tomorrow's video.

[@SkylarkFields]

I think you did well. Can't wait to see a video of whatever you get to photograph from your new hide.

[@chrislj2890]

Looks like the perfect place for an inexpensive holiday getaway. And with all of the mud it appears to have running water too, lol. 😉

[@russleewildlife1136]

Great video and idea using the pallets.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks Russ. Just wanted to show what was possible by accessing available stuff. I still spent way more than I expected though!

[@robinfereday6562]

Looks easy I’ll make two tomorrow 😂

[@andrewwilson3145]

joiner n all is there no end to your talent look forward to results from hide Paul

[@GlenDomulevicz]

Well done! You must have done great work as a child building hideaways and forts. I did not imagine in the beginning what you eventually accomplished. Thanks for sharing.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I used to love building things as a kid, for sure!

[@Nigel-nar53]

If I were you I'd put another pallet down as a floor preferably with insulation in the space underneath. Good Luck it looks fun. 👍

[@michaelodwyer5170]

Getting a large bolt that will screw into your shelf in your hide will give you the added bonus of having a stable camera when you attach it to the bolt. Just an idea. Pallets can come in very handy. I made a green house out of them many years ago when money was tight. The only real cost was nails and hinges for a door Pvc cover and latch to fasten the door. I got lots of tomatoes out of it. Plus it had the added bonus of somewhere to go if it rained.

[@davidblackwell6842]

well done paul i have made several of theses for my fox photography they work well

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Great stuff. I do hope to come down one day. Haven't frogotten.

[@davidblackwell6842]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography you welcom paul

[@diannajepson8708]

I love it!

[@timseward19]

Looking forward to seeing shots from your blind.Wishing Merry Christmas to you and your family and the very best in the coming year.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks Tim. And to you also.

[@craigmaisfield3247]

Mint mate. As long as it works.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Cheers. Can't wait for my first photo session - should be in a few days!

[@craigmaisfield3247]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography brilliant. Looking forward to the results.

[@peterbrehaut3780]

I would have added another pallet to the floor. That would have helped no end. Very much a build in the style of the A team ;) Love it and you may well have given me a few ideas :) Thank you.

[@4k4u99]

Love it

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you.

[@johnbelleville926]

as you have a great ledge on the hide i would suggest adding a bolt you can screw a gimbal head onto, it will be much smoother than a bean bag and you already are 90% there with the shelf !

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It's a good idea. Unfortunately i have had to dismantle this hide now.

[@nigelbramley4188]

Excellent vid Paul, White Lightening tastes so much better in a hide...🍺

[@jeffkatzer]

Ok, job done! Lets see what birds show up. :-)

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks Jeff. Can't wait to get shooting.

[@CamillaI]

I think you will be surprised especially regularly fed in winter

[@gregwilsonnaturephotography]

Hey Paul! Looks like a rustic air B&B.... Bring some coffee and some treats and just enjoy what you had fun building yourself. I'm looking forward to seeing the images! I think the Robin was keeping an eye out for the building inspector for you! Sayin' hey.... Greg

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you! It's already getting busier with birds now. Can't wait.

[@mikecrawshaw9727]

Good effort Paul and nice to see the majority of materials have been upcycled 👌🏻 looking forward to more diy projects 🤔 oh and the wildlife photos 👍🏻

[@gearjunkie8681]

Despite some unusual comments about the construction of your hide, I found it quite interesting and informative......obviously it's not going to be fantastic quality with old recycled wood and materials, but the idea that it looks tatty adds to the blending in the wild. The Blue tarp could prove to be a bit noisy leaving and entering the hide. Overall a great effort. Good on ya mate Atb Adrian

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you. Appreciate that. The rustling sound isn't a huge problem down there.

[@cerealkiller4248]

Just re-watched this, wondering if/when you will follow it up with images/videos. Also, just an observation- if you turned the pallets around, you could make shelves easily inside the hide for a cuppa, TC's etc. I may have a go at mine now I'm off work, lots of activity at the moment. Cheers Paul.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Nice idea for the the shelves. Actually I chose to do it the other way round cause it was easier to put together that way. I've done a video on small bird photography from this location; I wanted to do a vlog from the hide but ran out of time

[@quarkyman1]

Things I buy from Ikea end up looking worse than that Paul.. that’s after I’ve half built it and then realised I missed a crucial step and have to take it apart again. Well done mate that’ll do the job. I have 3 spare pallets, this is a definite plan now. Cheers Paul.

[@j30roth]

Doesn't have to be perfect for it to work, making good use of scrap wood. I moved our large garden arch and built a seat in it, I then covered it with cammo netting. Does the job, I can get very close to a variety of small birds and hopefully one day the sparrow hawk. Even the wombles recycled Paul 😉😉

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Totally agree Jon.! Yes, I'm hoping Sparrowhawk might stop by

[@j30roth]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography I hope it does Paul, best of luck.

[@jameshopkinson4056]

Love it thinking of building one myself in some woodland near me only for the winter months as it's full of mosquitoes in the summer and they bite me to shreds

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

God I hate bitey things..

[@tombalaam9536]

Really enjoyed this video Paul, despite the mud! Will you do a follow-up video where you photograph birds from this hide? Really hope so. Thank you for posting this.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Absolutely Tim. This is one of my main projects for this winter. I’ll be making videos on tips for photographing small birds.

[@tombalaam9536]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography Fabulous - really looking forward to seeing those. Thanks Paul

[@stephenperry7651]

Paul at first sight I thought you were building a giant bug house! It’s going to be snug compared to canvas/nylon but I would definitely put a floor in and some old carpet as insulation and a shelf for the small stove for your brew up 👍

[@dougedwards7570]

hehehehe SPECTACULAR EFFORT AND RESOURCEFULNESS

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks Doug! I love using what’s going spare. Takes a bit of thought though..

[@cerealkiller4248]

If that hide was a VW Camper, it'd be known as a Rat Rig 🤣. Seriously though, I have a load of pallets I got from work the other day, I have an acre of land as my garden backing into farmland so this will be great for the hide I was planning to make. I may have to wait for the weather to break before I start.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Get going. I only hope it's not as muddy as I am..

[@GT-74-Racing]

Very good idea Paul 😉👍🏻

[@knutfugl]

Interesting construction. Good job. Have you had any experiences in the Bird Hide? Wish you a wonderful week. Best regards, Knut.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thanks. Yes, some decent images of common garden birds. I am hoping for bullfinch and yesterday I saw the first one visit the feeders. Male too!

[@knutfugl]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography Well done. Good luck.

[@gumbysenduro6546]

Absolutely fantastic Paul, i can see your well happy with it, and so you should be, cant wait to see this in use, i just sub'd up so i don't miss it. :)

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Many thanks for subscribing.

[@Foxystorm11111]

If you can get hold of any Burlap, nail it on the walls inside the hide. Makes a huge difference in cold weather

[@NeilImmortal]

I would love a permanent hide but pretty happy with my pop-up Buteo one. Nice work but a bit muddy.

[@twiztedzero1685]

Lookin' good, it'll be sweet once you get the scrub bush around it. Then you can go and plant some choice perches in a few locations if the landowner permits that. You could easily extend the back with some poles and scrim net if you need a little more room to stretch out on, without having to build more structure. You got an Instagram?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Great advice there. No I don't do instagram.

[@paulm8157]

Clever DIY project, Paul. Well done. Look forward to follow up vid and images from the blind. Kids would love to use it as a fort. Time to feed that robin😁. How far from the target birds did you place the blind? Would like to see the sceen.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Hi Paul M. I'll do some videos from here in detail. For small birds I aim for around 12 feet.

[@stevecolwill9761]

Nice work, but you almost sawed your leg off at 1:30! 😱

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It's all under control..

[@jrpt6917]

👍📸

[@flatcapcars]

How did the hide work out . Is there a part 2 to this I’d be interested in seeing what it was like to spend a day in it ??

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Hi. I made a couple of videos on photographing small birds, using perches etc. Some of these photos were from the hide but I never made a specific video on using it. Unfortunately I have to take it down in a few days! One door closes... another opens.

[@josephbouvier9788]

What do I need to consider before making a bird hide? (Location, trees, etc.) Thanks!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It depends on the subject. For small birds I'm always looking for places with a bit of shelter, that gets light most of the day.

[@josephbouvier9788]

Ok, cool, thanks!

[@clivewelch1025]

Brilliant photographer you are DIY / Carpenter not so good lol but hey if it does the job then fair play

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I just do the best I can.. And usually learn something along the way!

[@a.d.c.1056]

You could get a ready made shed that size from B&Q for £100? And it won’t be an eyesore! 😂😂😂

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Maybe. Would have been more difficult to get it all down there though!

[@a.d.c.1056]

They come in sections Paul! You take great pics by the way! 👍

[@ianbrown704]

Do you have any availability over xmas and can I get room service, do you include breakfast? lol

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

If it was in London I could probably get £100 a night for it...

[@darrenm4220]

First!

[@digitalst0rm438]

Be careful, that blue pallet on the front belongs to Chep pallets. They are a pallet hire company, and someone is paying a hire charge on it. Just a heads up as they do not take kindly to people messing with their property.

[@russellwebb3672]

Can't see where you plug the kettle in? Did you put another pallet on the ground to use as floor and keep you out the mud?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I've nothing on the ground now. It wasn't too bad in there but today.. my god, it's awful. Might have to add a floor..

[@robertlawrence7958]

Who on earth has a big piece of rubber just laying about????? I can't help but keep thinking of the scene in Pulp Fiction with the gimp 😂😂😂😂

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Best comment here, lol! Come into my cellar...

[@robertlawrence7958]

Paul Miguel Photography well, you just got to have a laugh in life or else like wtf. 😬. Seasons wishes to you.

[@andyackerman9636]

Did you get an EU building permit? How about a pallet on the ground to keep you out of the mud. Very cleaver.

[@19Photographer76]

All of that and you're going to sit in the mud?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Well muddy floor ain't too bad but it's got worse! Might have to do something about it.

[@drferry]

Looks like crap, and don't quit your day job, but the birds don't care. It will work just fine!