BWC Open Day

Flo the Fox

I am currently in the process of writing three articles about the BWC in terms of photography. One showing the opportunities a photographer can have if they come along when we are open to the public, another showing what we can offer a photographer on one of our dedicated photographic days, and yes... you guessed it... the last one all about our owl photographic days.

To do this I wanted to obtain all the photos I used from the actual day, as if it was that experience we offer that I was attending. I joined in on our owl day last week for article number three, have booked in to one of our normal photographic days later this month, and went over to work on an open day during the summer spending the day with my camera...

... well, two days actually. I had to cheat on the open day one, as I kept getting called away to do jobs and talk to people.

Anyway, here are some of the better photos I took on the open days. I will be choosing a handful of these to illustrate my writing later this month.

Red Squirrel

I made sure I was at the Centre as if I was going there as a member of the public for a day out with my camera. If I was to go to a zoo or wildlife centre, my main aim would deb to try and get some nice portraits of the animals, and to spend the whole day there to enjoy what they had to offer.

Our first talk is the red squirrels at 10.30am. Unfortunately for the two days I was there with my camera, the weather was not great. Once was showers on and off, the other was very overcast, but still the opportunities were great... not that I am biased :-)

I got lucky with where he squirrel decided to eat her hazelnut above for a nice quirky shot.

Red Squirrel

The squirrels were not on the best form on the day I was there, but I still managed to get a few photos I was pleased with. Even changing angle slightly as above gave me a better angle for something a little different.

Red Squirrel

For those that have seen a lot of my photos, you know I like space... It's nice to give the animals room to breath in the frame, but I also get nagged by Liza in the office for blank space to put text on! This now follows me even in my own photography.

Squirrel with Tom

Perhaps the best thing with the squirrels are the way they interact with people and the keepers. This is one of our squirrels sat on Tom's shoulder while he was talking to a member of the public.

Fox

After the squirrels I moved on to the fox talk. I got there a bit late, having spent too much time with the squirrels... You really need to follow the talks to get good views of the animals, but more so turn up a little early. The animals are likely to be out waiting, and you get a better chance to position yourself to where you want to be. I was off at an angle, and it made it trickier to photograph through the wire, but in the end I managed to get some photos of Frodo peeking through foliage.

Frodo

Perhaps my favourite of the foxes that day, Frodo... most photographed fox in the world!

Wildcat

The wildcat talk was next, and I am not going to lie, this is difficult... very difficult from a photography point of view on an open day. You can focus through the netting, but the angle is all wrong. I went down on the flat by the door to get a lower angle, but then backgrounds were difficult. I had to be happy with closer framed head shots, and to get something a bit more interesting I waited until just after the had eaten to get some licking lips action.

Otter

I love our otters, and made sure I got there a little earlier than when the talk was about to start. This gave lots of time to get a few portraits.

Otter

And a few pulled back with a bit of the habitat in them.

Otters Playing

Something I usually tell the public after the talk is to hang around for ten minutes. Often the two boys start to have a bit of rough and tumble, and it is amazing to see. I got lucky... they did start to play with each other which is not unusual, but what was lucky is they where right out in the open. I stayed there for quite a while, and this was my favourite of that session.

Fallow Fawns

Just down from the otter ponds is our deer platform for the deer talk. I made sure I was there a few minutes early, as once the deer are over eating they are too close for me and you end up shooting down on them. Getting there early allows you to photograph them running over for there food. I got a quick snap of our four fallow fawns together.

Red Deer

And then managed to get Albus trotting over, leading the herd, to see what was on offer.

Tawny Owl

I missed out the hedgehog talk. It is possible to get photos of them, but it is more geared towards showing the hedgehogs off to people and allowing them to get up close and personal to learn more about them. I therefore took that time to grab a quick bite to eat, and have a walk around. Our new aviaries offer limited opportunities for photographs, but due to there habitat themed pens at the right angles you can get something.

Owls "Out and About"

Of course our owls are often out and about on a walk, and I couldn't resist a quick snap of these two above in this composition.

Ethel

And then the classic close up of Ethel which everyone seems to do.

Roe Deer

A little time to wander around is good, it gives you a chance to see the other animals we have not with a keeper talk. First thing I always recommend the water voles, and keep an eye out for the snakes too, I spent my spare time with the roe deer.

Fox

Some of our talks are repeated. I made sure I was back at the foxes in time to get a better position, and once again photograph Frodo.

Wildcat

Likewise with the wildcat repeat, I waited at our other enclosure to get some close ups of Macavity through the wire. This above photo was through the inch mesh, and from behind the standoff barrier... all these photos were taken in conditions exactly as what our members of the public have when they visit us. It goes to show with the right setting etc, you can avoid the barriers and wire.

Stoat

I skipped the otter talk in the afternoon, knowing I would be back there for the main feed, and went to wait up by the badgers. While there I spent some time with our stoats.

Stoat

Our stoats are often out waiting around the badger talk time, knowing they will be being fed soon.

Polecat

Likewise with our polecats.

Badger

And then off to the badger talk to get some photos of them. The badgers are great, and there are not many places you get to see them out in the open in the daylight. The thing you need to watch out for are the backgrounds. The way our pen is set up, it is easy to get the green tin in the picture. therefore you need to be at the right angle, or focus on close ups as I did on that day.

Pine Marten

I wasn't expecting anything with the pine martens. Bonnie's pen is dark, and they are quick, and the wire mesh is tight. I had to go and see them of course though, any excuse, and was happy with this one above.

Daisy with Ethel

Last up for out keeper talks is the owl display. I didn't even bother trying with flying owls... I am sure it is possible in its very limited way, but knowing that our display is geared up with the public in mind and not photographers I though I would focus on the keeper interaction again, and get them flying the owls.

Otter

At the end of the day we have the last few feeds to do. Many people leave after the owls, and so it is often quieter and the animals a little more active. Tips for you all... red squirrels and water voles at this time are good! I went to the otters for their main feed. Purely just to watch, but I took a few snaps at the same time.

One of the great things about the centre it the other wildlife around. Out on our boardwalk/reserve as you would imagine, but even just around the centre. I found this spider below eating a fly, so took a few pictures of that too!

Spider

May I remind you all that all these photographs were taken in conditions our members of the public have on an open day. I did not enter any enclosures, I did not cross any stand off barriers and had no favours from the keepers. I will admit to one advantage though. Even in plain clothes, a lot of the animals ran over to me and looked at me while I was outside.

In conclusion, and yes I am very biased, but I really think what we have on offer from a photographic point of view, even on an open day, is brilliant! I doubt many similar places out there could beat us. To come away with a mix of photos of different animals is great. I would keep in mind spending the whole day here, and following the talks. From a visiting photograph point of view, if I was to return, I think I would chose just a few of the animals and spend more time at there enclosures waiting for something a little more different/unusual to happen to photograph, but I would very much look forward to doing so!

Thanks for looking.