IN TO THE WILD

With Thomas Orrin , Wildlife Photographer

During the Easter holidays I went on a trip to Weald Country Park which was filled with wildlife, the lake had such a great variety of waterfowl, birds of prey flying above the trees and deer wandering through the forests.

My visit kicked off at the deer enclosure section which we stayed at for a while. As I walked along the path parallel to the fence I got one of my favourite shots, I got eye level with a greylag goose and as it took a bite out of grass I captured it in the moment. That encounter was swiftly followed up by a Mandarin Duck getting fed by the locals, amid some coots and mallards.

Thereafter, not much activity occurred until we entered the forest. Within the first couple of seconds in the wooded area, I spotted a tree-creeper. Although they aren’t the best images I’ve captured, they are my first of the species. No more than 10 feet away from the base of that tree, there was a cute little wood mouse. Although it scurried under the litter at first sight, it was amazing to see. The carpet of bluebells made the forest feel mystical, robins sung and squirrels scurried up the tall trees.

A kite soared over my head, its wingspan made me feel small. There wasn’t many other notable experiences that day but i saw blue tits, great tits, robins, jackdaws. mallards, etc. This trip was one of my most pleasurable trips with my camera.