There’s a special hush to lowland rivers at dawn — mist lifting off the water, the first insects waking, and the flash of a kingfisher slicing through the pale light. If you want to photograph these jewel-bright birds without lugging a full hide and spooking them, planning and a...
Mar 15, 2026
• by Aurélien Duval
Latest News from Outdoorangus Co
I’ve spent countless hours by UK rivers watching otters move through reedbeds, glide in the water and hunt along the banks. Photographing them is one of the most rewarding — and delicate — wildlife jobs you can try. Otters are curious but easily spooked: the first rule is to prioritise their wellbeing over the shot. Below I share how I approach riverbank otter photography without disturbing...
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Running a village nature watch is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done to connect people with the landscape on their doorstep. It doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive — just a clear plan, a handful of motivated volunteers, and a simple, repeatable survey method that feeds records back to your local wildlife trust. Below I share what’s worked for me: how I recruit and support...
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Winter on Dartmoor teaches you quickly that a wet foot is the enemy of a good day out. After years of slogging through peat hags, heather, and the infamous blanket bogs, I’ve settled on a handful of gaiter-and-sock combinations that reliably keep my feet dry, blister-free and moving. Below I share what I’ve tested in real conditions, why certain materials and fits matter, and practical tips...
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I’ve run a few village hedgerow surveys now and they’re one of my favourite low-effort, high-impact ways to get to know the patch of countryside I live next to. Hedgerows are linear wildlife corridors: they store history, feed birds and insects, and link habitats. With nothing more than a smartphone, a little planning and the right apps you can gather valuable ecological records and submit...
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Choosing between a 20L and a 30L rucksack for dawn landscape photography is one of those practical decisions that feels simple until you're standing at a misty viewpoint with a leaking waterproof and a tripod too big for your pack. I’ve spent thousands of hours walking and photographing across the UK, and I still weigh up this choice every time I plan an early-morning shoot. Below I walk...
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I have a habit of finding the muddiest, rainiest paths on purpose. Inevitably, that means I’ve had my fair share of close calls with cameras and phones that look as if they’ve been through a peat bog. Over the years I’ve learned a handful of practical steps that actually make a difference when a device is waterlogged or splashed with mud—how to minimise further damage, recover shots, and...
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Dusk on farmland is one of my favourite times to be out with a camera. The light softens, hedgerows come alive with sound and colour, and red foxes often slip out to hunt and play. Photographing them without a hide can be challenging but deeply rewarding—provided you put the animals’ welfare first. Over years of wandering fields and hedges I've learned a few reliable methods to get natural,...
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I’ve had more than a few unplanned nights on Scottish hills — late descents after navigation went pear-shaped, sheltering from sudden storms, or taking the pragmatic call to wait out fading light rather than push on. When you’re caught out, the choice of shelter matters: it shapes how warm, dry and rested you’ll wake up, how light you can travel, and how quickly you can get back on your...
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Cold-weather day hikes ask a lot of your body and your pack. I’ve learned the hard way that a small, well-chosen stash of food can keep you warm, moving, and in good spirits when temperatures drop and daylight is short. Below I share the meals and snacks I reach for on crisp winter walks—options that are high in energy, easy to prepare, and light to carry. These are practical, often...
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I spent several weekends recently walking moorland routes across northern England with the Sony a7C II in my pack, testing it as a handheld camera for landscape and wildlife shots. Moorland photography is a good stress test: wide, often windy vistas, tricky light that moves with cloud and sun, and the occasional fast-moving bird or wary mammal. I wanted to answer practical questions I ask before...
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