BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY | BIRDS OF PREY | MERLINS & KESTRELS | EXMOOR Canon R3 & EF 500mm F4 L IS Mk II

[@NikCan66]

Fabulous yet again.

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Nik, not the best in terms of pictures but a nice day all the same. Cheers Rich

[@leehanley71]

Great video Richard, what a beautiful place Exmoor looks, it turned out a beautiful day in the end. Nice footage and stills. Stonechat image is brilliant Mate. 📸👍🏽

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Lee, results weren’t in abundance but a day out in nature is never wasted! Thanks for watching 👍

[@Rob.1340]

Thanks Richard, the search continues. They are so fast. Amazing birds. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Rob, it does indeed! I shall get my shot one of these days, lol... in the UK or Canada.. Cheers Rich

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Good luck on future trips Richard. As you say you can't always be successful. Persistence pays off in the end though. All the best, Steve.

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks very much Steve, 95% of the time! Failure but that 5% makes it worth the wait especially when success finds you 💪🏻👍

[@Karkawry1970]

Nice Vlog Richard, and very much if you don't go, you'll never know! Cracking looking spot..

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Phil, indeed! You won't get the shots sitting at home, lol.. Top place to see them. Cheers Rich

[@cerealkiller4248]

I spotted a Merlin last year, it was in a Hawthorn tree on a motorway slip road about 10 feet from my car. It was the first one I’d seen in years. A few weeks later, sadly the council had cut all the trees down and all potential perches had gone.

[@RichardBirchett]

Great spot but what a nightmare with the council! That seems to be a big problem with the local councils! Great work:-( Thanks again for watching. Cheers Rich 👍

[@nickclaytonphotography]

Gotta be in it to win it mate! You sure won’t see them sat in front of the fire drinking horlicks! 😂 I know that’s not your style, & you put the effort in & get out there whatever the weather. Another enjoyable vlog to watch mate, & your honesty goes a long way with the us as viewers & subscribers; & like minded photographers, proving that nothing is guaranteed in wildlife & sometimes they just don’t play ball. Just to see one would be enough for me, but to capture it like you have (especially your head on shot from your military range last year) is amazing & something I would love to see. Excellent footage of the red deer stag, buzzard & kestrels too mate. Nothing to be sorry for, it’s how it is & I for one respect that you show it how it all too often is. Still beats being stuck at work or indoors & not able to get out. Good on ya mate! Keep on keeping on. Best, Nick

[@RichardBirchett]

You have indeed mate, I always enjoy myself regardless of the outcome as you well know! Thanks for your kind words you are a top bloke who I've known for a fair while now and I so appreciate all of your support on the channel and on Patreon. Yep, that head on shot was a lucky day, the 1DX Mk 1's AF was smoking that day, very difficult with a heck of a lot of luck involved, lol.. Thanks again Nick I shall keep on, All the best Rich

[@garylancelles6666]

Great vlog Richard ,been waiting for this one to come onto your channel .

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Gary, you know the place well!!! Such a shame but that's wildlife for you, if i'd have stayed and tried over the week I am sure I'd have got my shot, but not this time! Maybe you will mate?? Cheers R

[@chosenbydesign9007]

Another fantastic adventure....ty for sharing the Merlin, what a treat.!!

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks very much, always like to bring some better results but a tricky bird in a big place, lol... Maybe next time??? Cheers Richard

[@alanarmer8069]

Great video Richard,kestrels we’re always my favourite growing up in north lancs 👍

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks for watching Alan, I love Kestrels and they are such a joy to watch. All the best Rich

[@deerohdeer8000]

From the beginning I love the raw & honest post you put out !! Like you say that’s how it goes , you have the good days & the bad days ! But even the the bad days are special cause you always learning ! And just being out there is great like you say ! Still least you saw the Merlin result in my eyes ! Keep your professional field craft up !! Bang on ! Thumbs up 70 !!👍

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Craig, it's the only way to be! Many people say you should only bring out videos when you've got more to show! But to me that's not true to life as a wildlife photographer and naturalist, results don't come easy but you've just got to try and do your best! And honesty is the best policy. Thanks again Rich

[@adrianmoore4690]

Great video Richard

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks for watching Adrian, I'll find that male one day, lol. Cheers Rich

[@simoneardley]

Looked a great day out Rich, what a belting spot. That's how most days out in the field go mate, well for me they do!!😂 Keep getting out there mate and the shot will come, all the best. Si 👀👊📷

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Si, it's always great to be out with results or not! It will one day, maybe not in this country, lol.. Cheers R

[@davidvdbroeck_nature8305]

One trip closer to eventually getting him 😉

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks David, it's always a big challenge to get results where I am but it's so worth it when it comes together! Did you sort the R7 issue? Cheers Rich

[@davidvdbroeck_nature8305]

@@RichardBirchett We eventually found an arrangement for 700€ after me asking them why its stated weathersealing on their website. I took the risk, a new one is 1500€ over here. Time will tell, it's a great tool nevertheless. Looking @ the r6ii now, going to helgoland in two months and sold my 5DIV so I still need a fullframe for close-ups.

[@RichardBirchett]

Nice one David, glad it’s sorted and your totally right to question the sealing! A bit misleading! Best of luck on your trip 👍

[@KevinNordstrom]

great footage Richard

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Kevin, all the best Rich 👍

[@philipworth1715]

The merlins have provided a nice subject this year with the lack of short eared owls. But even today red kite seem to be resident in the area.

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks for watching Phillip, not a bad consolation prize a Merlin! Been very quiet on the SEO front although we have one visiting at the moment! Failed to secure anything last night but I will try again soon. Cheers Rich

[@philipworth1715]

@@RichardBirchett on Sunday we were fortunate to see 2 male hen harriers hunting, not very far in miles from where you were merlin watching.

[@RichardBirchett]

That’s awesome to hear Phillip! What a bird, seeing it on wild isles on Sunday gave me goose bumps! And tells me I need to head to my special spot in Scotland! Cheers R

[@craigmaisfield3247]

Great vlog mate. Such a shame there was no images of the merlin. But that wildlife photography for you..

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Craig, never an easy bird down my way but I shall get rewarded one day, MAYBE! It is mate and never stops me getting out amongst it! Cheers Rich

[@craigmaisfield3247]

@@RichardBirchett Never had the pleasure up here with the marlins. I spending my time at moment with the Owls. Struggling with the SEO as there always too far away.

[@RichardBirchett]

That’s a shame mate! We’ve finally got a late visit from a Shorty, spent 5 hours yesterday, didn’t turn up! I left and 30 Mins later it turned up, lol.. typical 😂👍

[@craigmaisfield3247]

@@RichardBirchett Typical mate. 🤣 I had one last week in rain land on a post to shake the water off. But as I pulled up grabbed the camera a car overtook me n spooked it...

[@wildphil]

Think you're a bit hard on yourself, mate when you say no results. That was awesome Kestrel footage - I rarely manage to get that close to them and I do hope you got a nice environmental still of that Red Deer? It looked lovely on the video! I've seen what I belive to be Merlins recently, but flying super fast - I just couldn't get the focus in time. I really found the info you gave about the habitat and habits of the Merlin really helpful - the habitat matches the type I saw the in - and all the extra info about the bird is really great desk research for folks like me. Thank you very much! 🙂

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks for watching Phil, I am my harshest critic but thats the way it is, lol.. Glad you enjoy a bit about the bird, they are truly fantastic to watch hunt and lightning fast. Great to see other species as well, was hoping for a Red to show still sporting Antlers and the Ravens and other resident birds helped the days session. Can't win them all and it's just great to be out in Nature. Cheers Rich

[@scotttilleyphotography]

One I've yet to photograph Richard, looks very tricky! Have to say loved the Raven footage, really have a soft spot for them. It looked like a fantastic day mate, the sort I really look forward too!👍

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Scott, it was a cracking time out on the moor, result or not! Nature always inspires me to get out and do what I love. Cheers Rich

[@stefangoldensteinwildlife9929]

Hi Richard.I missed to film the merlin this year, but I saw it a few times. Wonderful little bird of prey. Greets Stefan

[@RichardBirchett]

Hi Stefan, thanks for watching the video. That's a shame, such amazing birds and so so fast! Maybe we shall both get lucky one day! All the best Rich

[@CamillaI]

I was very lucky with an inflight shot of a Male Merlin on Salisbury Plain. But it is such a vast area like Exmoor . I will have a look next time I am around Exmoor, but it is an everything crossed subject, enjoyed the video and the Stag👌

[@RichardBirchett]

Thanks Mark, Salisbury Palin is a great spot for them and like Exmoor it's quite big! If you do go and try best of luck! It sure is a fingers crossed bird, lol. Cheers Rich

[@CamillaI]

@@RichardBirchett I am in North Devon/ Exmoor next on the 12th to the 19th of August if you fancy a meet up ? Hopefully it will stop raining by then ! 🙂

[@RichardBirchett]

Lol, that would of be great mark but I leave for Canada at the end of July! Shame:-(

[@CamillaI]

@@RichardBirchett Canada marvellous . Anyway I have two seperate weeks a year in North Devon so no problem another week.🙂

[@RichardBirchett]

Cool, I’m off to live there for 4 years👍