This week I headed over to Martin Mere Wetland Centre in Ormskirk, the weather was fine and I was looking forward to getting out in front of the camera and doing some wildlife photography.

Unfortunately Martin Mere Wetland Center doesn't open till quite late in the morning around 9:30am, so it was a late start for wildlife photography.
However, I had seven hours in which to find some wildlife around this fantastic nature reserve. I started off by heading down to the Ron Barker hide which is quite a good location as it overlooks the fields beyond where the Raptors tend to hunt such as the marsh Harrier and the barn owls and buzzards, which always offer some great video and photo opportunities.
Also in the Ron Barker hide is the Kingfisher perch, and if you're fortunate enough the king fishing come on land of these perches just long enough for you to get a few photos of this magnificently coloured bird.

My 2:00 PM the going was rough and I hadn't managed to capture very much at all a very quiet day on the reserve despite the fine weather, so with that in mind and only a few hours left I decided to simplify my photography and go back to basics, at the Kingfisher hide where the bird feeders used to be they have now put up a reflection pool, this is a great little attraction however it is a little close to the hide and people tend to stand at the window and expect the birds to come and land on the reflection pool logs, this is not the case and never will be, I managed to find a spot standing against the central pier of the structure, with my camera on the tripod I focus on the reflection pool now a couple of meters away and let the birds come in, and this they did, I manged to get a few photos of different species before other people came up into the hide area and came to look at the reflection pool and stand in the windows therefore frightening the birds off, and not returning until had all gone quiet again.

Whilst doing this I was fortunate enough for the barn owl to come in and make a few flybys creating some great opportunities for some video and photos of this wonderful barn owl flying around over the reserve hunting for its afternoon snack.

A fantastic day at Martin mere highly recommended and great for wildlife photography.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT USED

Canon R5 https://amzn.to/3KGnZ4t
Canon R6 https://amzn.to/3qsEytK
Canon R7 https://amzn.to/41jeNcw
Canon RF 100500mm f/4.57.1 L
Canon EF 70 200mm f2.8 IS III L
Canon RF 85mm f1.2L USM DS Lens
Canon RF 1.4 x convertor: https://amzn.to/41L7YBO
Smallrig Camara cage x3
Benro Tortoise 24CLV Tripod: https://amzn.to/3H4TKSu
GoPro Hero 12: https://amzn.to/3H3Y18Y
Atomos Ninja 5.2" : https://amzn.to/47eNDWw



SOCIAL MEDIA & OTHER CONTACTS TO SUPPORT MY WORK

CONTACT ME [email protected]
WEBSITE https://www.wildlifephotographeruk.co.uk
FACEBOOK   / wildlifephotographeruk  
INSTAGRAM   / wildlifephotographeruk  
TWITTER   / ashleyjbarnard  



Other items used, and in my Kit

SNEAKY 3D PULLOVER SET W. JACKET 40 INNOVATION CAMOUFLAGE https://www.deerhunterclothing.co.uk/...


Tragopan HIDE HOKKI V3 https://tragopanshop.com/'>https://tragopanshop.com/gb/hides/26...
*Tragopan GHILLIE BLANKET KHAKI*: https://tragopanshop.com/'>https://tragopanshop.com/
*Tragopan 3D SUIT 2 PIECES*: https://tragopanshop.com/'>https://tragopanshop.com/

Hahnel Captur Remote https://amzn.to/3ro79B7
Sony ICDTX660 Digital Voice Recorder: https://amzn.to/40OeG8a
Benro Gh5c Gimbal Head: https://amzn.to/3TGYgLs
Benro Tortoise 24CLV Tripod https://amzn.to/3DGLLJ9
Self Adhesive Camouflage: https://amzn.to/3SkqWsp
Rain Poncho: https://amzn.to/3VN8Bal
Camera Battery Case: https://amzn.to/3VOFtQ8
Tripod Stool: https://amzn.to/3eW2sIr
Camouflage scrim: https://amzn.to/3z3rdt4