Photographing a Famous Bird of Prey in the UK!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

If you visit nature reserves for wildlife photography, but would like some more tips on getting the most out of them, watch this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXLLfZKbeNWBfMk

[@MrMohammedazam]

What I admire most about you is how different you are from other photographers and those who offer photography content on KZbin. They are usually focused entirely on cameras and lenses, believing that their success or failure depends on the equipment. You, on the other hand, are different because you focus on the shooting environment and rarely mention the tools used in the process.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I really appreciate that. That is really my intention most of the time. And to encourage people to get out there and try

[@StephenBrooks-e9m]

I like that you are constantly offering advice on camera settings and environment observations.

[@stigfloberghagenphotography]

Nice 👍👌

[@paulbaldwin2290]

Great video Paul like theese longer videos Great kestrel and wonderful colours well done 👏👏

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you. It was a beautiful day. And a beautiful bird of prey!

[@Kellysher]

We have Kestrel’s in my part of the USA, and I I’ve seen them, but I don’t have a decent photo of one! I’m pretty jealous you have a semi-friendly one! I shoot mostly in NR and parks. I love early mornings. My biggest challenge is the light vs my lens! I shoot the R5 100-500 7.1. I truly love the versatility of the lens, but a SS of 800 is the lowest I can go handheld. So, ISO can get pretty high. I haven’t found a graceful way to carry a monopod and still keep my camera on a strap around my neck. I love that you take us into the field and talk about the bird’s behavior! Happy Birding!

[@brianchandler1365]

Well done Paul, great footage and photos of a normally shy bird. Lovely experience

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you Brian. What an absolute joy it was! Would love to go back and get some more variety.

[@PaulGibbings01]

I had a close up experience with a female kestrel in February. For over 10 minutes, it sat on the top of a small tree about 20 metres away, and as I was slightly elevated she was almost at eye level. She clearly knew I was there, but was concentrating on looking for prey, she dropped down a couple of times into the long grass, although didn't catch anything. It felt such a privilege to spend time with a wild kestrel. I have revisited the location a dozen time since then and I'm pretty sure I've seen the same bird hovering overhead, but I have not managed to get that close again.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Sounds absolutely brilliant Paul. Moments like that are very special. I think when a bird is intent on hunting, that can sometimes be a chance to get closer views.

[@eljayr4669]

My local Reserve, Rainham Marshes, had Kirsty the Kestrel. You could get extremely close to her. We all got some fantastic shots of her. A great experience as you found out. Also that Vole was a great find.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

That sounds briliant.

[@floridasuburbannature]

So awesome! Our resident neighborhood kestrel tends to perch too far for me to get quality photos. Can't complain too much when hawks will actually perch on our fence...but still, Mr. Kestrel, please come closer.

[@SkylarkFields]

Fantastic - really enjoyed this one, Paul. Kestrels seem to be the main raptor in my area, along with buzzards, so I have photographed those many times. After a whole day of rain here in 'sunny' Dorset, it was so good to watch your video filmed in the sunshine, and the voles and squirrel were the icing on the cake. Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing your tips and lovely footage.

[@ianpawson1356]

I should do Brockholes more than I have done, it is after all 30 mins from me. Great video as usual Paul

[@masterhall1685]

The kestrel is a very beautiful bird. I had a chance to take pictures of it this spring, too, and on the nest. And since the tree was not very tall, I managed to remove her clutch of eggs, of which there were five.

[@raccoonjones4730]

9:30 good moment 😂

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Lol! I just try and go with it..

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Great video Paul, really glad you got to see Kevin and he didn’t disappoint. He was sat on those signs within minutes of me arriving as well. Also got to great ground shots of him in the car park the afternoon. Really great reserve. 👍

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Brilliant! Glad you got him too.

[@garystone6583]

Looks like a great place to visit but it's so far from me. Loved the footage and images of Kevin.❤

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

thanks Gary. Great place - hopefully you can find something similar, closer to you

[@robhunt2216]

Hi Paul. A great video. Brockholes is a lovely nature reserve. I’ve been a few times but I’ve never managed to see Kevin. I’ll have to try again some time. Just a tip, that area of woodlands with the tree stumps and fallen branches gets bluebells in the spring which makes for a nice background when photographing the birds and squirrels there 👍. I think nature reserves are great places so more videos like this would be fantastic 😃

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Great tip. Thank you!

[@CamillaI]

I thought Kevin was stalking you, certainly unusual to get so close. Certainly my type of NR Awesome Paul 👍

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I think he's so used to people that maybe sometimes he follows them. Really nice place Brockholes. Hope you go back for more bird photography. Many thanks.

[@CamillaI]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography Yes I was doing Shorebirds last weekend at Keyhaven NR Hampshire 🙂

[@TheNaturalAngle]

Great video, as always! Interestingly, your rare Kevin is actually quite common here in India. We have a saying: this is one of the few birds whose name starts with COMMON truly lives up to it.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Thank you. That sounds a lot of fun over there.

[@dust1415]

As you asked questions about the nature reserve, how do you have a couple of observations, one small one, I regular use is fantastic for photographers and twitches does not have all the rare species, but still it's good then another one owned by a big organisation and a big place is the poorest for photographers, but which is more set up for twitches you can see the Birds from a distance. The best way to show this is with the whooper swans. They have a purpose-built observation room with lots of glass that can't be opened forcing you to shoot through dirty glass on the ground floor, but if you go upstairs for a poor angle but shooting down on the swans you have windows that are able able to be opened but if you walk around, you might get lucky and get birds in flight. They have three purpose-built hides and all are just a little bit away to shoot the birds even with a 600 mm lens. And as for support in the hides I always go for a mono pod. It's lightweight easy to move around

[@afseale]

“That’s a dog……” that’s funny!

[@LoneJoe_hadley]

Thanks 😊 for sharing

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

You're very welcome. I hope you enjoyed the journey.

[@Ryanswildlifephotography]

Cracking video as always mate !!! What an experience this must have been !!!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

it's up there with my favourite experiences for sure!

[@philipwatson2443]

Got a few pics of Kevin the kestrel myself when I go Brockholes when up north

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Nice one. I only found out about him fairly recently. Really was amazing.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Looks a good site for Roe Deer too.

[@philipwatson2443]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography and Hares

[@leo1066]

Great video, Paul. Thank you. Have you ever covered the video settings on your R6. I’ve not used that function yet, but love to know the kind of settings you use on your R6 for Wilde life. Thank you.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

I haven't done that, no. I have a specific set up but I feel it's quite complicated. I'll definitely consider it though. Thanks.

[@Andyhelliwellphotography]

There’s a kestrel near me in darwen by sunnyhurst woods that’s sometimes quite tame well sometimes anyways can get really close up to it

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Really? Thats fantastic. Always enjoyable when that happens.

[@Andyhelliwellphotography]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography yes isn’t it just

[@PaulAmyes]

I'm lucky to have a pair of Nankeen Kestrels that nest in my back garden. They often use the bird baths we put out in summer and they can be regularly seen perching on my TV aerial. On the subject of bird hides on reserves, well my experience of them here in Australia is that they are often poorly sited meaning it is very difficult to actually observe birds from them. Being 6'4" the windows are often too low so I have to contort into shapes reminiscent of a pretzel. the bench for sitting is often too far away from the the window ledge which makes things very awkward. I'm pretty sure that the people who design them have never actually used one. So for the most part I ignore them.

[@Andyhelliwellphotography]

Hey Paul what’s the vlogging camera you’re using please?

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

It's the Canon M50 Andy. Absolutely brilliant. Used it for years now.

[@Andyhelliwellphotography]

@@PaulMiguelPhotography I hv the m50 too but not used it in a long time thou

[@Andyhelliwellphotography]

Hey Paul I hope brockholes didn’t get u for parking? Like they hv done for myself and my mate Gary ? As the machines don’t work properly sometimes

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

No. Machine seemed to work fine.

[@Kellysher]

We don’t have hides in the NR that Ive been to here in the US. I would really love to shoot from a hide. I’ve even tried to find private hides without success! I do agree that most NR aren’t photographers friendly. It’s very hard to get low to the waters edge to get eye level with ducks due to the tall grasses. I’d love to see a video on foreground blur. I’m never sure how to do it. What is artistic and what is crap!

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

We have a lot of hides in the UK. And lots of 'paid for' hides too. Seems very different in the U.S. - I've never been. I will try to remember about foreground blur.. thanks!

[@russellwebb3672]

In answer to your question about nature reserves and photographers, think you/we have to realise that reserves were made for people to watch wildlife mainly through binoculars not take photographs, wildlife photography for many is a relatively new experience with the digital world taking forefront, how many took 500 images with a 36 roll film camera? Look how far the water is away from the hides, the grass /reeds are part of the ecosystem within reserves. Think reserves are a good starting point for new photographers but out and about in woodlands is far more rewarding especially if you get that one special image.

[@mikemotorsport]

Monopod is the good for hides.

[@Andyhelliwellphotography]

put some toothpaste on that spot paul