What a year it’s been, an emotional roller coaster of ups and downs. I started 2020 on such a high, I’d worked so hard to build my wedding photography business, and felt 2020 was going to be my best year in business so far, 25 wedding bookings coming in during January alone spanning 2020 and 2021.

From such a high came a massive blow in March 2020, Covid-19. The repercussions of Government restrictions on the people of Great Britain hit me like a sledge hammer, as one by one, every single wedding after March 2020 was postponed and moved to 2021 and beyond as Wedding Venue after Wedding Venue was forced to close their doors to the public. Not only Great Britain, but the rest of the world was locked down, stay at homes was the message, protect lives and save the NHS, close your business, stop trading. We came out on our doorsteps and clapped for the NHS every week.

2020 has been a tough year for everyone, and we have all tried to find our own way to deal with this crazy crazy world, a Global Pandemic was about to hit us like a ton of bricks and cause devastation throughout the country. Each and every one of us have been touched in different ways by Coronavirus.  

As we spent more and more time indoors, the natural world started to recover from years of abuse, wildlife seemed to gain more confidence and venture further away from their natural safe surroundings for longer periods of time. People saw species of birds and mammals they had never seen before, or even knew “lived” in their neighbourhood, opening up a whole new world before their eyes.

During Lockdown people noticed how important the natural world has been for our own wellbeing, with 77% of people in England finding that visiting nature has been important for their general health and happiness. Time spent in nature led to enhanced feelings of positivity and increased general health, including improved mental wellbeing. Whether you watch birds seek out nesting spots or stop and notice bulbs and flowers raising from the ground, those moments brought joy and helped relieve stress.

Nature has a remarkable way of restoring calm, as people enjoyed the uplifting sound of birdsong through an open window, went out into the Great British Countryside to welcome a dose of fresh air and exercise. Many of us found solace in nature and unearthed precious time to notice what’s going on around us.

I already had an interest in nature and wildlife, and as the Government restrictions eased and travel was permitted I used my new found “spare time”, to venture out with my camera looking for wildlife.

Here are some of the photos taken this year since lockdown was announced in March 2020 – I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did taking them.

Sometimes I sat waiting hours for what ever would come along. I was only too surprised to see this fox with a mouse in its mouth walking towards me. It didn’t stay long once it had seen me, but long enough for me to capture this image.

Its always nice to see young birds when they first fledge. I sat and watched two newly fledged (days old) Peregrines, and thought this meadow pipit was chancing his luck bombing this Peregrine – dooohhh !!!

I’ve watched the little owls for a few years. However, this year I had the privilege of meeting the juvenile little owl. Just amazing to watch. Funny how they have that same ability to look grumpy.

I had heard there were some long eared owls in this particular locality as dog walkers and joggers were very keen to inform me when they saw me wandering around with me camera. I tried on many occasions to find them but had no luck day after day, morning after morning, week after week. Then one morning a dog walker told me to look in the evenings rather than the morning, so I did. I was literally wandering round the area just before dusk, scouring the trees for the owl when suddenly it appeared in front of me and landed on the most amazing perch that I could ever have wished for. He clocked me straight away, but very kindly gave me about 10 seconds of his time to capture this shot whilst my heart was thumping away in my chest. I managed to get a few shots then he flew off as quickly as he appeared.

I was just so elated to have finally found the long eared owl which had eluded me for so many weeks. I couldn’t believe how it sat on this plain perch in clear view and looked at me with those piercing orange eyes staring down through the barrel of my lens.

Sometimes as a wildlife photographer you go sit and wait for something and you just never know what will appear. I was chuffed to bits to see this stoat pop up just in front of me

The gold crest. Britain’s smallest bird. What an amazing find and sight this was. The first time I’ve ever seen a Goldcrest

This has got to be the highlight of my lockdown year. A first sighting of a badger for me, what a great experience.

It truly has been a wonderful year for my wildlife sightings, and probably kept me sane throughout this year.

I have made some of my images into greetings cards and also a 2021 wildlife calendar.

My images are for sale as prints and I can be contacted at debra@docbphotography.com for more information

Thank you for looking. I do hope you have enjoyed seeing my photos