I run short, repeatable surveys of hedgerow bees around my village using nothing more than a smartphone, a pocket notebook and a simple plan. Over several seasons I’ve learnt which photos actually help with identifications, how to design a route that gives reliable, repeatable samples, and where...
Aug 10, 2026
• by Aurélien Duval
Latest News from Outdoorangus Co
If you’re like me, a good pair of walking boots is the difference between a day spent enjoying boggy moors and one ruined by sore feet or wet socks. Buying secondhand boots is a great way to save money and reduce waste, but it takes a bit of know-how to avoid a dud. I’ve tested and worn plenty of boots across UK mud, peat and shingle, so here’s the field-tested checklist I use before buying...
Read more...
I remember the first time I saw a badger emerge at dusk near a wood I’d been watching for weeks. The light was failing, the air smelled of damp leaves, and I felt equal parts thrilled and nervous — badgers are notoriously wary, and I had no hide. Since then I’ve learned a few practical ways to photograph a badger sett at dusk while keeping disturbance to an absolute minimum. Below I share...
Read more...
Why I convert a cheap action camera for hidden trail recordingI've spent thousands of hours walking the UK’s trails and watching how mammals and birds behave when they think no one is around. Trail cameras are great, but they can be expensive, and I often want something lighter, cheaper and more flexible for short projects — a weekend stakeout of a badger sett, a hedgerow to see fox activity,...
Read more...
I spend a lot of time wandering footpaths, through hedgerows and over damp woodland floors, and fungi are one of the most rewarding things to notice when you slow down. They’re seasonal, often ephemeral, and beautifully varied in form and colour—but they also need good records to help conservationists track biodiversity and detect changes. Over the years I’ve developed an exact 8-step...
Read more...
Why a lightweight tarp shelter matters for dawn sea-cliff silhouette shotsThere’s a particular magic to shooting silhouettes at dawn from sea-cliffs: the soft gradation of colour, the crisp horizon line, and the drama that a 70–200mm brings when you compress distance and isolate shapes. I’ve learned that staying comfortable and protected in those early hours—without hauling a full bivvy...
Read more...
I’ve spent enough damp days on Pennine bogs to know that overtrousers are not a one-size-fits-all purchase. They need to keep driving rain and rising peat water out, while also letting your sweat escape during long slogging sections or steep climbs. In this piece I share how I choose and test waterproof overtrousers for wet, cold, and technical upland conditions — what I look for in fit, the...
Read more...
I’ve spent hundreds of ridge kilometres in summer light testing boots, chasing views and, importantly, chasing comfort. Hot spots and blisters can ruin a perfect day on a long exposed ridge, so over time I’ve learned to focus as much on fit and small details as on brand hype. Below I share the practical, field-tested fitting checklist I now use before I buy any midweight walking boot, along...
Read more...
Finding a wandering red kite chick on a roadside verge, in a garden or in a field can be worrying. I’ve come across young raptors on more than one walk and learned that staying calm, observing carefully and following a clear set of steps is the best way to help. Below I’ll walk you through exactly what I do when I find a stray red kite chick, what information to collect, who to contact and...
Read more...
Running a hedgerow moth night in a village is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to connect people with nocturnal wildlife. You don't need a garden full of professional kit or a heavy wallet — just a bit of planning, a white sheet, a light source, a camera (even a smartphone), and a willingness to learn. Below I walk through everything I do for community moth nights and how I then...
Read more...
On cold, wind-blasted mornings when I’m chasing the soft light over the sea, the last thing I want is moisture on my lens or my camera body getting drenched by spray. Over the years I’ve learned that a simple, lightweight waterproof shelter made from a tarpaulin can keep my gear dry, let me work low to the ground for interesting foregrounds, and collapse into a compact kit that won’t slow a...
Read more...
