There’s something magical about photographing birds in their natural habitat – a group of sanderlings quietly resting on the shoreline, or the sudden burst of energy as a little egret seizes its prey.
But behind every great wildlife photo is a simple truth: the welfare of the birds comes first. Disturbance can cause stress, waste vital energy, and even impact survival, especially during winter and breeding seasons.
The good news? With a little care and planning, we can take stunning shots while keeping birds safe and undisturbed. Ranger Charlotte took the beautiful photo at the top of this page of sanderlings in the golden light at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Here’s her tips on combining creativity with responsibility.
Thoughtful observation
Photography isn’t just about creating beautiful images – it’s a creative way to slow down and really observe birds.
When we’re looking through the lens, we notice the details: the curve of a bill, the way plumage changes with the light, or the subtle behaviours that reveal how each species feeds, rests and interacts.
This attentive observation helps us build familiarity with the birds around us, deepening our appreciation and understanding of their lives.
The best way to capture outstanding wildlife images is to:
- Spend time watching your subject before you start taking photos. Observing feeding, interaction and resting habits will help you understand their patterns and anticipate behaviour.
- Notice the details – such as the way turnstones heave over rocks and seaweed to search for food – make our photography more rewarding and deepen our connection with wildlife.
For example, this remarkable study of a battle between a crab and a curlew was the result of close observation by Yvonne Williams – the winner of the Birds on the Solent category in last year’s Bird Aware Solent photography competition.
A curlew with a crab taken by Yvonne Williams, winner of the Solent Birds category of the last Bird Aware photo competition
Spot signs of birds on alert
- When we’re looking for a perfect shot, we need to keep a careful watch for indications that birds have become aware of our presence, such as raised heads, alert calls, or stopping feeding or resting. If we notice these behaviours, we need to step back immediately to give them space.
- If we think our approach may be causing birds stress, we must move away at once. Their comfort and safety should always come before getting the perfect shot.
All about the timing
- Good lighting can make all the difference when it comes to wildlife photography.
One of the best times of day is the ‘golden hour – shortly after sunrise or before sunset. At this time the sun is at a low angle, which means its rays filter through a greater distance and create a warm colour temperature. The beautiful light on these sanderlings was one of the reasons the photo won the junior category in last year’s Bird Aware Solent photography competition.
Sanderlings taken by 10-year-old Frederick Browning, junior winner of the last Bird Aware Solent photo competition
This time of day can also be a good chance to take flight shots as birds may be coming or going from their overnight roost sites.
- At the coast, tide times matter, not just for our own safety: low tide brings feeding activity, while high tide is for rest. Avoid high tides if birds are trying to rest undisturbed.
What equipment is needed?
Long lenses and zooming
To capture close-up details without disturbing birds, it helps if you can invest in a camera with a strong zoom or a long lens. Many modern bridge cameras – which sit between a compact camera and a DSLR – now offer excellent zoom capabilities.
Look for models that are recommended for wildlife photography to ensure sharp, detailed shots from a respectful distance.
‘Digiscoping’
If you’ve already got a spotting telescope, and you don’t want to buy a camera or specialist lenses, you can try pointing your phone camera into the eyepiece of your scope – this is known as ‘digiscoping’. There are even special mounting adapters to help you do this. Our rangers have captured extraordinarily detailed images and footage of birds simply by careful positioning of their mobile phones – and a steady hand.
Taking a step back
Not all great photography needs to be close-up. The overall winner of last year’s Bird Aware Solent photography competition was a stunning image taken by Jonathan Corbett across the water at Lymington of turnstones huddled on a rock which you can see at the to of the page.
Indeed we’ve seen some great nature photography taken on mobile phones, such as this fabulous shot by Matt Bowdler of the water at Meon Shore which picked up a special award in last year’s photography competition.
Matt Bowdler’s prize-winning photo in the last Bird Aware Solent competition, taken on a mobile phone, of the waves on Meon shore
Ready to share your shots?
If you’re sharing photographs on social media, why not let people know what steps you took to prioritise the welfare of wildlife? That way you’ll help inspire others to make the same nature-friendly decisions.
