Words by Peter Hanscomb

I love nothing more than getting out into the great outdoors with my camera. Sometimes returning home with a plethora of stunning images ( in my dreams anyway )  and sometimes having not even switched the camera on . For me the main joy is just being out and about immersed in nature. It doesn’t matter if it’s watching Kingfishers catching fish or one of my local foxes , running off with an egg from the end of my drive.

Nature , the animals are for me the most important element of my photographic passion, one reason so much of this photography blog is dedicated to them.  I guess I’m  the same as most other wildlife photographer’s, I want to continue to improve my photography, and as my friend Bob Brind-Surch often says , the best way to improve your wildlife shots is to spend time getting to know your subject.

If you regularly visit wildonline then you will know that 2018 must have been the year of the Hedgehog. Hog Cam , our new sponsor Spikes World , the Hedgehog houses in my garden and the arrival of Grumpy and Happy  , the two rescue Hedgehogs who will be living with us until their release later this year.

2018 has been a great year for my developing knowledge of all things Hog. I would never claim to be an expert , far from it and having rescue Hedgehogs has been a very short,  sharp learning curve . However my knowledge has grown together with a greater empathy for our little spiked garden visitors.

Ever keen to understand the hedgehog and increase my knowledge I came across a book on line , Hedgehog by Pat Morris . If your love hedgehogs this is definitely the book for you.

Four hundred and four pages dedicated to the life of the hedgehog , from an expert author and naturalist covering every aspect of hedgehog life . I can honestly say that I can’t put this book down at the moment and it’s been an invaluable source of information and reference whilst trying to understand my two little house guests.

Will it improve my Hedgehog photography, only time will tell but it’s definitely improved my understanding of this little Mammal and reconfirmed my love and respect for hedgehog

Hedgehog by Pat Morris

available in

hardback                978-0-00-823570-3

and paperback      978-0-00-823573-4

WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY

Wildlife Wednesday 14-4-2021 I now feel like I’m fully back into the swing of Wildlife Wednesday, again at our new base The Hide at the Meadow. Today I had the pleasure of my wife Anne joining me at the hide , complete with twin flasks of hot chocolate, a real treat. It was a busy […]

by phans66 April 14, 2021

Meet the Model – Pedro Pheasant

PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus Length              70-90 cm Wingspan        80-85 cm Weight              1.4 kg Population       3.5 million birds Easily recognizable, the pheasant is a common sight in the countryside and can be found all over the great Britain. This […]

by phans66 April 14, 2021April 13, 2021

THE ROBIN – updated

The Robin , Erithacus rubecula. The Robin , a familiar sight in British gardens and parks is a small rounded bird with a distinctive red plumage on it’s breast. A firm favourite in our garden and a regular visitor to the wildflower meadow hide this little bird sometimes called the Robin Redbreast  is embedded deep […]

by phans66 April 12, 2021April 11, 2021