Searching for Dippers in the Elan Valley, Wales

[@StephenBrooks-e9m]

Your enthusiasm is infectious

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers mate, that’s a fantastic compliment to read 👍🏻

[@paulus1011]

Talked to your dad on 6/6/2023 about your KZbin channel. He was taking photos of dippers at Dove Dale. I'm glad he told me about this channel, it's very well made, I'm a new subscriber😀👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you very much for your comment. Pops mentioned that he had spoken to you, glad you’ve found and enjoyed the channel 👍🏻

[@relichunter7984]

Great video Dan, lovely photos of the Dipper.

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers mate, appreciate it 👍🏻

[@danielhopkin5514]

Nice one Dan 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Daniel 👍🏻

[@davidsutton2432]

Another great video Dan.

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers David 👍🏻

[@craigmaisfield3247]

Brilliant Video. Loving the Jackets. 😆

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Craig, what did we look like 😂😂😂

[@craigmaisfield3247]

@@danwillis_photography Looked good to be Honist.

[@danwillis_photography]

@@craigmaisfield3247 cheers mate 👍🏻😀

[@derekclark4762]

Wonderful photographs and video Dan not forgetting Pops, such busy little birds the dipper, visited the Mid Wales area for about 10 years from the late 70s ,originally went to see the Red Kites only 30 +pairs back then in the whole of the UK. Dinas Hill was my favourite, so many species. Keep up the great photography it's marvellous, cheers

[@danwillis_photography]

Many thanks for your comment and your recounts of your earlier visits to the area, I enjoyed reading them. All the best, Dan and Pops 👍🏻

[@antonoat]

Great stuff here Dan, a real trip down memory lane for me. I remember photographing Dippers there in the late eighties with Eifel (the farmer who started Gigrin farm Red Kite feeding station which was latterly run by his son! Eifel was a real Enthusiast he loved the birds and photography. It's great that you have these photography adventures with your Dad, I'm sure you know that! Maybe I'll bump into you one of these days ! Cheers for now and keep up the excellent KZbin channel! Tony.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Tony, what a fantastic experience to recount and for me to read. The next two videos are at Gigrin Farm, it is a fantastic place and I can only imagine what a remarkable man Eiffel must’ve been (I’ve read a little about him and his passion for birds). Time with Pops is precious and we have such a laugh together when we are out, he’s taught me everything I know. I’m sure we will cross paths at some point, thanks for the support 👍🏻

[@Trish12303]

Beautiful images! I just got my Z8 this week and I can’t wait to get it out in the field. I just love that you and your dad are out together and have the same interest. I lost my dad a few years ago and I miss him so much. It just touched my heart seeing the two of you enjoying life. Thanks for sharing!!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Trish I really appreciate your comment. I do feel very fortunate to spend time with Pops, especially since my Mam passed away. Time is very precious ❤️

[@joncothranphotography9375]

That was great! I love to do walkabouts like that with my camera. Thanks so much!

[@danwillis_photography]

You are so welcome Jon. Sometimes it’s absolutely the best way to photograph 👍🏻

[@jeanlouis83]

Hello Dan de bonnes images mais celles de Pops sont meilleures, donc travai😀lles

[@danwillis_photography]

merci beaucoup, je suis sûr que pops sera encore plus content de votre commentaire 👍🏻

[@derekflynnsnr]

Great video Dan, fantastic photos too, give Simon Eardley a shout and get a couple of his bean bags, they work a treat when you're going handheld and protects the lens instead of sitting it on a rock

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much I really appreciate it. I will definitely be giving Simon Eardley a shout, they look like fantastic bits of kit 👍🏻

[@mikek601]

Thank you for another great video alot of time and effort put in we truely appreciate it great work.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Mike, I really appreciate your comment and continued support 👍🏻

[@paulfranklin8636]

I had to laugh when I saw the title....I know the Elan is beautiful and you wanted to get some pictures, but seriously I can see Dippers as I walk into town in Merthyr Tydfil, they love to hang around on a little bunch of rocks right by the Fire Station

[@danwillis_photography]

I guess that’s the price of local knowledge Paul. Pops and I had not photographed Dippers here before, hence the title, if we are ever in Merthyr Tydfil I will definitely check out your recommendation 👍🏻

[@johngunning2123]

What a great spot. I've already decided to visit Gigrin Farm so I might include this spot in July.. 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

It’s well worth a visit John, there are also opportunities to photograph Redstart and Pied Flycatcher along the river 👍🏻

[@JohnCooper-jl5nt]

Another great video Dan the relationship you have with Pops is super something I never had with my late Father treasure it forever

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks John I really appreciate that. To be honest we just have a giggle from start to finish on our trips, I love spending time together ❤️

[@SwanSycorax]

A really lovely video, Dan. I don't know how you do it. From my own rather amateur attempts I know how much work goes into these. Good to see "Pops" back in front of your camera wielding the 800. I see he uses the same strap as I use with mine. Only way I can lug it around for any distance!!

[@danwillis_photography]

Cheers Brian, I really appreciate your comment mate. It’s a labour of love, I genuinely enjoy filming these videos and especially with Pops we have a right giggle 😁

[@grahvis]

I used to fish in that area, and developed a liking for dippers. Saw one once on the Severn at Llandinam which was entering a slack shallow patch of water by dropping in from a low overhanging tree branch. Having caught its prey, it then walked out and went back to the branch to repeat the performance.

[@danwillis_photography]

They are amazing little birds aren’t they and creatures of habit like you describe 👍🏻

[@ianjackson1670]

Great video again Dan I had the closest hide by my self a couple of years ago three different bodies and lenses it was amazing!!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Ian, I love when you get a hide to yourself 👍🏻

[@caltblake6112]

hi guys, love bird photography moved to wales four years ago from oxford loads of dippers on our local stretch river aman

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Calt, appreciate your comment. You are very lucky to live in a stunning part of the UK 👍🏻

[@BrianWob-s4g]

Got a river about 20-25 feet from my patio get dippers grey wagtail king fisher heron and last week a pair of goosander think I’m very lucky

[@danwillis_photography]

I think you are very lucky indeed. All the best 👍🏻

[@laurencearnold5822]

Lovely shots Dan, enjoyed the video noticed the focal length are you both using DX crop mode? Looking forward to the next instalment 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Laurence. Yes me and pops constantly switch between FX and DX (in fact we’ve programmed one of the front buttons to quickly switch between modes.) The way we think of it, is like switching to a D500, the camera we both previously used. It gives you the crop factor and as the subject is larger in the frame the autofocus usually is more effective, especially animal eye recognition 👍🏻

[@MrWassy99]

Hi mate, Im taking my mrs and dog away mid July to this very area! Im going to get up early one morning and visit this stream. Did you park at the visitor centre and walk up stream ? If so how far did you go? Im booked in to use the "The Big Tower" at Gigrin ! Will be my first time visiting, I can't wait. Cheers for the great video, Picking up some great tips and an enjoyable watch.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for the comment, I’m glad you enjoyed the video. If you arrive early the visitor centre will be closed and so you can cross the river on the old bridge and park (for free, you have to pay in the centre) right on the river bank. There’s only a few spots so being early should get you a spot. Hope you have a fantastic trip 👍🏻

[@jeffreybarton1386]

Brilliant once again Would you please do a video regarding backing up your photos whilst on a few days trip away without using a laptop. Therefore saving from memory card to whatever gizmos necessary Cheers Jeff

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Jeffrey, that sounds like a great idea for a video 👍🏻

[@user-bu9nb8wr6e]

The Merlin bird app is fantastic, I think. I've had a few birds that I would have never got without it. Last week, I got Lesser Whitethroat. I was like what's that, used the app and then managed to see the bird as well.

[@danwillis_photography]

It really is a fantastic app isn’t it 👍🏻

[@malcolmfarley1958]

This may seem a dull question?, how are you achieving 750mm with that 500mm prime.. are you using the Z9 in DX mode ??, Great videos as always thanks for sharing your journeys with us.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Malcom. Not a dull question at all, yes it’s from shooting in DX mode which gives you the crop factor on the lens. It shows, hopefully, how I switch between FX and DX mode and how it is a plus and not something people should be afraid of using 👍🏻

[@millerswoodnature8736]

Hi Fan and Stuart, great video but why the slow shutter speed for the photos, looks like you’re iso is still low

[@danwillis_photography]

There was very limited light and we were trying to demonstrate that if you slow the shutter speed down you can get low ISO and still achieve acceptably sharp photographs. Hope that this answers your question? Thank you for your comment 👍🏻

[@terrynewmanphotography]

Another enjoyable video Dan thank you. Had my Z9 for a few months with 100-400 and 1.4TC but looking at options for something longer. What strap was pops using to hang that gear off the tripod foot?

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Terry. Pops uses the black rapid strap which attaches directly to the tripod foot 👍🏻

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Another great video Dan. Went to Gigrin and Elan Valley last year. Got some good shots of spotted flycatcher at the RSPB reserve. Be interested to see how you get on in the low level hide as we struggled due wind direction. Good luck 👍 Ian

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Ian, wish we’d seen a spotted flycatcher. Not going to give any spoilers but the low level hide was a challenge 👍🏻

[@user-markparker]

Hi Dan, just curious as to where this location was? I noticed you drove through Rhayader, past the monument & was wondering if you then took the mountain road towards the Elan Vally visitor centre? If so how did you get to this section of river as I’d love to pay it a visit. Great video. Mark.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much for your question Mark. This is the stretch of river below the Elan Valley Visitor Centre. Just before the entrance there’s an old bridge where you can cross and follow the river downstream. Hope that answers your question and you have a good trip 👍🏻

[@user-markparker]

@@danwillis_photography Many thanks, we just retired & moved to a place about 10 miles from the visitor centre so will definitely be paying it a visit especially knowing it has Kingfishers. Thanks for your reply & keep up the great work. 👍👍

[@sinwong6612]

Love your videos and photographs. Would like to know the focusing modes you shoot with?

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you very much I appreciate your comment. I have produced a video on my focusing modes. It’s titled Nikon Z9 autofocus setup for wildlife. Please consider checking it out on my channel 👍🏻

[@sinwong6612]

@@danwillis_photography Thanks but I was wondering specifically for the dipper shots?

[@danwillis_photography]

Apologies, I was using animal eye recognition for the majority of the shots. Occasionally when it struggled to acquire the target I would use single point focus which I have setup on one of the programmable front buttons. The latter mode is my failsafe and a mode I am comfortable with coming from a D500 prior to switching to the Z9. Pops uses a similar method but often uses wide area small as opposed to single point focus. Hope this answers your question 😁

[@sinwong6612]

@@danwillis_photography Thank you. 🙏I'm trying different techniques to find what is best for me. Keep up the great jobs.

[@danwillis_photography]

@@sinwong6612 thanks very much, I think you are absolutely right in your response. There isn’t a one size fits all response to autofocus and it should be what works for you in the situation. Thanks for your comments 😁