Carol's Nature Photography Blog

The pages on this site document my walks in the East of England and on vacation in other areas of the country. I always have my camera with me, and like to capture images of the wildlife and nature that I see.

As each page is added to the site it will be listed on this page making it easy for you to see the new additions. When I make repeat visits to a destination I will often add further information to an existing page, so you may see pages popup again. They are worth checking out even if you have read them before.

Sep 12, 2026

Woodland Photography Tips for Beginners: A UK Autumn Walk

Mossy tree trunk bathed in warm golden-hour light; honey-coloured bark

Simple woodland photography tips for beginners: camera settings, composition and phone-friendly ideas from a real autumn walk in the UK

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Sep 12, 2026

Paxton Pits for Beginners: A Quiet Wildlife Walk

A beginner-friendly wildlife walk at Paxton Pits in Cambridgeshire. What to look for, when to visit, where to wait, and how to enjoy quiet days.

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Sep 10, 2026

Back Button Focus for Wildlife: Help or Hindrance?

Where back button focus genuinely helps with wildlife, where it gets in your way, and how to decide without feeling you should be using it anyway

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Aug 30, 2026

Rutland Water Nature Reserve: Wildlife, Ospreys & Photos

Photos and a first-hand guide to the wildlife at Rutland Water Nature Reserve: winter waterfowl, summer ospreys, the best hides and when to visit.

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Aug 23, 2026

Grafham Water Nature Reserve: 8 Hides & a 9-Mile Walk

8 bird hides, goldeneye, bitterns and avocets around an 80-hectare Cambridgeshire reservoir. A 9-mile circular walk with cafe, hides and seasonal highlights

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Aug 23, 2026

The Best Wildlife Walks in Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire's best wildlife walks: ancient woodlands, fen reserves and hidden wildlife spots, from someone who's been exploring them for 40 years.

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Aug 23, 2026

Common Chiffchaff: The Bird That Sings Its Name

A common chiffchaff perched in a tree, beak open in song. The bird faces slightly sideways, catching the spring morning light.

Meet the Common Chiffchaff, a small warbler that sings its own name. Identify it by song and sight, plus where to find it and when to listen for it in the UK.

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Aug 23, 2026

Great Crested Grebe: Courtship, Nesting & Chicks. A UK Photo Guide

Great crested grebe behaviour through a full UK breeding season: courtship dances, floating nests, chicks riding on parents' backs, and where to watch them.

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Aug 23, 2026

Best Beginner Camera for Wildlife Photography: A UK Guide

Best wildlife camera for a beginner on a budget? A nature photographer's guide to choosing your first camera, from phone to bridge, DSLR or mirrorless.

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Aug 22, 2026

Best Camera Settings for Wildlife Photography: A Field Guide

What aperture, shutter speed and ISO do, and how to choose the best camera settings for wildlife photography in the field, with real examples.

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Jul 26, 2026

Puffins at Bempton Cliffs: Best Time to Visit & Season Guide

See puffins at Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire coast. Visit mid-April to July — June is peak season. Plus gannets, razorbills and guillemots

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Jul 25, 2026

Butterfly Photography Tips: How to Photograph Butterflies Up Close

Macro shot showing intricate wing patterns and fine hairs on a Dingy Skipper butterfly.

Beautiful butterfly photos and macro photography tips. Best camera and lens for butterfly photography, plus settings for stunning close-ups on UK nature walks.

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Jul 23, 2026

Pitsford Water Nature Reserve: 8 Bird Hides & a 7-Mile Walk

Eight bird hides around the shoreline, egrets, grebes and red-crested pochards. A 7-mile reserve walk in Northamptonshire. Permit needed, free for members

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Jul 23, 2026

Where to see wildlife in England - walks arranged by county

A county-by-county guide to wildlife walks and nature reserves in England, from crane-watching in the Fens to seabird cliffs in Yorkshire.

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Jul 23, 2026

East Yorkshire Cliffs & Wildlife: Flamborough, Bempton, Spurn

Explore East Yorkshire's best coast spots: Spurn Point, Flamborough Head and Bempton Cliffs. Accessible viewpoints, tide/erosion tips, seabirds.

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Jul 23, 2026

Wildlife Photography in the Rain: A Practical Wet-Weather Guide

Don't let rain put you off. How to protect your camera, adjust your settings, and capture the stunning atmosphere that only wet-weather walks can deliver.

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Jun 20, 2026

Getting Into Wildlife Photography: A Beginner's Guide

A Jackdaw on the ground in bright sunlight, leaning forward on short grass with a curved grass stem arched above its back.

Camera settings, golden hour lighting, fieldcraft and composition for beginners. A nature photographer's guide with real examples from the field.

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Jun 09, 2026

How to Identify Wild Birds: A Beginner’s Guide to Birdwatching

A simple, personal method for identifying wild birds on your walks, using shape, song, behaviour and habitat instead of apps and memorised lists.

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Jun 09, 2026

Wildlife in the UK | Wildlife & Nature Photography Field Guides

Species ID and photography guides for UK wildlife: birds, butterflies and small creatures, with practical tips for improving your own photos.

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Jun 09, 2026

Nature for Beginners: How to Start Exploring Wildlife

Feeling lost in the outdoors? Learn how to plan a great wildlife day out, identify your first birds, and take photos you're proud of. Your starting point.

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Jun 09, 2026

How to Edit a Wildlife Photo for Natural-Looking Results

Edit your wildlife and nature photos: cropping, exposure, colour, sharpening and noise reduction in Lightroom, without losing the natural feel.

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Jun 09, 2026

Rutland Belle Osprey Cruise: Dawn Trip & What You'll See

What it's like aboard the Rutland Belle on a dawn osprey cruise: the ospreys we spotted (including male 33), the other wildlife, and what to bring.

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Jun 09, 2026

English Bluebells: Photography Tips at Brampton Wood

A practical tutorial on photographing English bluebells: when to go, camera settings, composition tips and how to use bluebell woodland light.

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Jun 09, 2026

RSPB Nene Washes in Winter: Short-Eared Owls at Sunrise

A frosty winter sunrise at RSPB Nene Washes, with Short-eared Owls, Whooper Swans, Lapwings and roe deer, plus the photo settings I used that morning.

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Jun 09, 2026

RSPB Fowlmere: Hares, Grebes & What to Expect on Your Visit

What's RSPB Fowlmere really like? Teal, brown hares, grebes with chicks and sedge warblers in the reeds. A quiet Cambridgeshire reserve worth slowing down for

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I've spent over 30 years walking and photographing UK wildlife, with work featured in Canon EOS Magazine and a Wildlife Trusts calendar. I still learn something new on most outings.

This site is my field notebook full of photo tips, help on identifying what you see, and how to decide where to walk. About Me.

Step Behind the Wild Lens

Seasonal field notes from my wildlife walks: recent encounters, the story behind favourite photos, and simple, practical tips you can use on your next outing.