Wildlife Photography Locations Near Campsites

[AnnB]

I'm looking for ideas of places to visit. Has anyone stayed at a campsite in the UK with Red Squirrels, Otters nearby, Owls hunting, Hares boxing, Salmon leaping, Adders basking?

 

[Wombles]

Don't know if the Red Kite Centre at Gigrin Farm https://www.gigrin.co.uk/ in Mid Wales still does camping but may be worth asking them if that may be of interest?

 

[Figaro]

Red squirrels are reclusive little buggers.
I`ve been to various sites where they are meant to be present but never seen a thing.
I think it may help to have the patience to sit still for hours and wait ...... and wait

 

[M-J]

Ferry Meadows, Peterborough.

 

[Wanderlust]

Kielder water, ospreys too in Summer.

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[Otter Spotter]

Most of the Marina camp sites on Shetland will have Otters nearby, also Seals, Orca and dolphins from the shoreline. Cheap site charges too
Nice photo of mum and cubs, where was that taken ?

 

[Langtoftlad]

Lyndon Top for Ospreys
Cragside, Northumberland for red squirrels.

 

[Nanniemate]

Only place I can think of to see them all is Bristol zoo. ..

 

[AnnB]

Thank you so much for your replies.

I'd forgotten about the camping at Gigrin, I stayed there many years ago before we had Red Kites in Buckinghamshire. Beautiful place and well worth another visit if they're still doing camping.

I definitely have the patience to sit and wait for wildlife, after all it's less energetic than walking for my ageing body. The Glenmore campsite on the way up to Cairngorm is one place I've seen Red Squirrels and I'm wondering what the Red Squirrel population is like at Formby these days (it's been a while since I last went there).

Ferry Meadows is a nice easy one for me to get to, thank you.

I haven't been to Kielder Water, anywhere on Shetland, Lyndon Top, Cragside, or Bristol zoo so I'll put them on the "to do" list.

The Otter mum and cubs were just round the bay from Shielings campsite on Mull.

 

[Quackers]

No watercourse here so Otters are out and haven't seen a Red squirrel for a long time. We regularly see Buzzards, Owls, Deer, Rabbits, Pheasants, Grey Squirrels and Bats. We keep honey bees so you will always see them along with Chickens, Geese, Ducks and a Peacock.
If you wander round with a camera you will normally get a nice shot of something.

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[boxtraveller]

I definitely have the patience to sit and wait for wildlife, after all it's less energetic than walking for my ageing body. The Glenmore campsite on the way up to Cairngorm is one place I've seen Red Squirrels and I'm wondering what the Red Squirrel population is like at Formby these days (it's been a while since I last went there).

My son and family saw Red Squirrels at Formby last week

 

[Otter Spotter]

Thank you so much for your replies.

I'd forgotten about the camping at Gigrin, I stayed there many years ago before we had Red Kites in Buckinghamshire. Beautiful place and well worth another visit if they're still doing camping.

I definitely have the patience to sit and wait for wildlife, after all it's less energetic than walking for my ageing body. The Glenmore campsite on the way up to Cairngorm is one place I've seen Red Squirrels and I'm wondering what the Red Squirrel population is like at Formby these days (it's been a while since I last went there).

Ferry Meadows is a nice easy one for me to get to, thank you.

I haven't been to Kielder Water, anywhere on Shetland, Lyndon Top, Cragside, or Bristol zoo so I'll put them on the "to do" list.

The Otter mum and cubs were just round the bay from Shielings campsite on Mull.

Otters on the coastline from Craignure to Torosay Castle, that was the area where I found my very first Otter 15 years ago so great to see there still a healthy population
I have been told that the Red Squirrels at Formby have been decimated due to The National Trust not letting anyone in to feed Them. Not sure how true that is.
there is a great Red Squirrel hide in woodland near Hawes, Wensleydale it costs but it’s worth it.

 

[Otter Spotter]

My son and family saw Red Squirrels at Formby last week

Can you ask your son if they are back up to strength ?

 

[boxtraveller]

He has no idea however from the National Trust at Formby website:

Why can’t we feed the squirrels?
In the past we sold squirrel food so our visitors could help us feed the reds. This has led to the squirrels expecting to be fed in this way, but it’s something we’ve been actively discouraging in recent years. And has led to us changing the way we feed them too.
Encouraging squirrels to come together to feed by providing feeding boxes or scatter feeding on the ground, increases the risk of infections being transferred. Squirrels are also susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria we can carry on our skin. The more people there are feeding the squirrels, the more this risk increases. For these reasons we have stopped all supplementary feeding.

How are the squirrels being fed?
At Formby there is enough natural food in the woodlands for the squirrels to forage and thrive. They eat a variety of food, berries, lichen, and fungi, as well as pine cones.
Help us, help them by not feeding but enjoy watching them, chasing around, and up and down the trees, and help us maintain a healthy population of red squirrels at National Trust Formby.

 

[Otter Spotter]

He has no idea however from the National Trust at Formby website:

Why can’t we feed the squirrels?
In the past we sold squirrel food so our visitors could help us feed the reds. This has led to the squirrels expecting to be fed in this way, but it’s something we’ve been actively discouraging in recent years. And has led to us changing the way we feed them too.
Encouraging squirrels to come together to feed by providing feeding boxes or scatter feeding on the ground, increases the risk of infections being transferred. Squirrels are also susceptible to diseases caused by bacteria we can carry on our skin. The more people there are feeding the squirrels, the more this risk increases. For these reasons we have stopped all supplementary feeding.

How are the squirrels being fed?
At Formby there is enough natural food in the woodlands for the squirrels to forage and thrive. They eat a variety of food, berries, lichen, and fungi, as well as pine cones.
Help us, help them by not feeding but enjoy watching them, chasing around, and up and down the trees, and help us maintain a healthy population of red squirrels at National Trust Formby.

Thanks for that, I have to admit it’s been 3 yrs since I have been to Formby And I got frustrated with the noise of kids shouting at the squirrels when they wanted to feed them, not very good for the wee beasties

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[Wendo55]

Rosemarkie C&MC site, North of Inverness. Next to Chanonry Point where dolphins swim twice a day with the tide to feed. Fantastic sight!

 

[Otter Spotter]

Rosemarkie C&MC site, North of Inverness. Next to Chanonry Point where dolphins swim twice a day with the tide to feed. Fantastic sight!

I may call there on my roundabout route to Shetland

 

[AnnB]

Interesting info re not feeding the Squirrels at Formby, thank you. I know they suffered badly with Squirrel Pox some time ago so perhaps that's why.

Ah yes, Chanonry Point. You can almost reach out and touch the Dolphins but predicting when they're going to surface for a photo is a nightmare.

 

[Gellyneck]

Rosemarkie C&MC site, North of Inverness. Next to Chanonry Point where dolphins swim twice a day with the tide to feed. Fantastic sight!

I may call there on my roundabout route to Shetland

We prefer Fortrose Bay on the other side of the peninsula.

Fortrose Bay Campsite in Fortrose,Camping near the sea in Fortrose, Inverness, Highlands, Scotland

Fortrose Bay Campsite is the best campsite looking into Moray Firth in Scottish Highlands

fortrosebaycampsite.co.uk

Much friendlier than the "Friendly Club" site.

 

[AnnB]

Yes, I stayed at Fortrose Bay last time too.

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[Gellyneck]

Ah yes, Chanonry Point. You can almost reach out and touch the Dolphins but predicting when they're going to surface for a photo is a nightmare.

Tell me about it!

 

[Quackers]

I remember the Crowds at Chanonry Point who left disappointed, you do have to be patient to be rewarded with an amazing sight.

 

[boxtraveller]

I may call there on my roundabout route to Shetland

I agree with the others try Fortrose Bay https://fortrosebaycampsite.co.uk/ very friendly, helpful and in my view a better place to camp

 

[somertonion]

Long Meadow near Brockenhurst great for fallow deer that wander right through the site

 

[Otter Spotter]

I remember the Crowds at Chanonry Point who left disappointed, you do have to be patient to be rewarded with an amazing sight.View attachment 423345

View attachment 423341View attachment 423342View attachment 423343

Only certain race tides create the salmon runs which in turn get the Dolphins playing to camera.

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[FataMorgana]

Keswick / Borrowdale for red squirrels, Bassenthwaite likewise osprey, otters in Rydal Water.

 

[FataMorgana]

Doves this morning in Keswick.

Deer in Glencoe / Glen Etive

 

[AnnB]

Thank you for the wonderful ideas. Brilliant photos too.

 

[grumps147]

Most of the sites around Pooley Bridge at the north of Ullswater have red squirrels. The River Eamont at the top of Ullswater through to Penrith has a variety of wildlife. Most elusive.are the Kingfishers. Quite a spectacle watching salmon spawning late autumn early winter. The bridge there should be back open to traffic then. Lots of deer around the nearby Lowther Estate. Adders definitely around Haweswater.

 

[Gellyneck]

Mull, all taken from the main road (A849)!
Not the best as only had a wee point and shoot camera in my pocket.

Hey, who you lookin' at?

OK, I'm off!

The natives seemed friendly.

Where's all the fish gone?

However beware the awfy high tides!

ps virtually every site on Mull is excellent. The one at Killiechronan you sometimes get sight of sea eagles but guess who didn't even have any camera with him?

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