On Friday 31th January members of the Bangor club gathered to receive their fellow club member Nigel Snell who would present his outstanding work in wild life photography .
Nigel commenced by affirming that while he is regarded as a bird photographer he also photographs other species as would be evident as the evening progressed.
Nigel said that birds of many species are all around us we just need to look and it is not difficult to attract these creatures if you establish a feeder and use a hide which can be your car and even if you just stand and wait the birds will become accustomed your presence and not think you are any threat .
Nigel made his first group excursion to the Cairngorms and the Wildshots reserve to photograph falcons and said that as he is something of a loner he will often wander off alone to do his own thing .
Golden eagles and tawny owls featured as Nigel explained his methods for capturing these magnificent birds. It was at this location that Nigel befriended a staff photographer for The RSPB while sharing a hide and discovered they had much in common .
Venturing further afield Nigel has visited The Grand Teton Nation Park and Yellowstone in the month of March with snow still present .In winter only one entrance to the park is open .Here black bear,bison,elk pronghorn , wolf , mountain lion ,coyote and grizzly roam the park in addition to the many bird species.
A journey along the only road that was open at this time of year Nigel and wife decided to visit Cooke City .You can imagine their disappointment when on arrival a building set in a wilderness where long tentacles of icicles hung from the roof eaves was the city .
Fortunately the journey was not waisted as along the way mountain goats .big horned sheep and a bald eagle was encountered.
Next trips to a wetland and salt marshes in the south of France Nigel encountered many species of colourful birds . This area is also an habitat for stork.
Back home Nigel visits NI.RSPB Window on Wildlife Castle Island near Strangford where Oystercatcher,Shelduck,Tern,Brent Geese can all be seen .and has visited a private hide in Cushendun . In The Republic of Ireland has visited the GLORY glory hides and the Irish Photography Hides both in County Laois
A chance meeting with the owner of the Finnebrogue Estate in County Down gave Nigel assess to the estate during the rutting season .Here Nigel was conducted by the head gamekeeper on a Land Rover journey through this facility.
The local patch of Ward Park and Island Hill are not ignored as Nigel has photographed the many species to e seen at these locations .
Nigel also explores the world of insects with dragonfly's and Damselfly's being amongst the species photographed .
Nigel advises go out do your own thing, explore ,have fun.
Even a cursory acquaintance with Nigel's work will convince you that the passion and dedication of this photographer is evident in the results achieved often in the extreme hostile environments of cold or heat .
Many thanks to Nigel for sharing his many photographic adventures. To see more of Nigel's work visit his web site at https://imagesbynigelsnell.com/
Edward McCavana BNDCC Information Officer
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