I saw and photographed my first ever SEO this week - I really enjoyed watching this.

@danwillis_photography

4 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Keith and congratulations on the capture. SEO’s are an amazing subject to photograph aren’t they? All the best 👍🏻

One word. “WOW”

@danwillis_photography

4 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Tom, appreciate it 👍🏻

Fantastic video, some brilliant images, well done!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Chris 👍🏻

Great video Dan🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽

@danwillis_photography

4 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Aly, really appreciate it 👍🏻

Absolutely awesome.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 👍🏻

great video and great shots

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, all the best 👍🏻

Great shots, Sir! Thanks for bringing us along!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much, I’m really appreciating your support 👍🏻

Great video, got to love the shorties

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Ray, they really are a very photogenic owl. All the best 👍🏻

What a magic spot! I'll make a point of visiting this place in July. 👍

@danwillis_photography

3 ай бұрын

Thanks John, Bempton Cliffs really is a first class reserve and when you visit the the place is alive with thousands of breeding Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbills and Puffin. There is a chance to see the owls although most will have migrated back to the continent 👍🏻

Brilliant as always Dan

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Ian, always appreciated 👍🏻

Fantastic

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Chris, appreciate it 👍🏻

Wow that was truly amazing video I’ve never seen anything like this before definitely going to visit next year,the quality of your video footage and photos are outstanding, I have told my friends about you and your videos thank you for sharing it with us fantastic work well done. Martyn

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Martyn I really your message and you taking the time to share my channel with others, I really appreciate it 👍🏻

Magical Dan, thank you

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Lee, appreciate it 👍🏻

Great Video Dan, love the production and effort that goes into it and your enthusiasm. Most of all though, the owls were the stars.

@danwillis_photography

5 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Jerry, really appreciate your kind words and support. All the very best 👍🏻

Well Dan Bempton comes up trumps again for you, marvellous videos and images as usual, birding can be so hit and miss especially when you have travelled a good distance but that's the thrill of the chase. Myself and a couple of birding pals visited Elmley in Kent to see mainly waders back in the late 70s, what Pops up 6 Short Eared owl wheeling around together, then later a young Sea Eagle most likely one of the birds released on Rhum, sadly a few weeks later shot and killed, certainly a hobby with highs and lows. Superb footage as normal, roll on next Sunday evening 👌

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Derek, always a pleasure to read your comments. You are absolutely right about the thrill of the chase, it’s the possibility of failure and the lows that make the highs just amazing. All the very best 👍🏻

Sensational video. Great footage and images. You jammy git 😂😂😂

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 I did consider myself a jammy git 😂😂😂 Cheers mate, appreciate it 👍🏻

Cracking images and footage Dan!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Ian, appreciated 👍🏻

感謝精彩分享

@danwillis_photography

4 ай бұрын

My pleasure, thank you ☺️

Another good one buddy 💯🔥

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much mate 👍🏻

Amazing again Dan. I hope to get to Brampton Cliffs someday.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Stephen, I can definitely recommend it. All the best 👍🏻

Wow...what an incredible day!! Absolutely loved watching this Dan. I live near London so Bempton is a long way from me but this makes me want to fund a day to get up there in my old banger lol. Off to Bushy Park tomorrow with the camera so fingers crossed I may see something good but it won't be a patch on the birds you saw in this. Outstanding!

@danwillis_photography

5 ай бұрын

Thanks very much mate, really appreciate it. I’ve not been to Bushy park but visited Richmond on my last trip to London, might try Bushy next time. Bempton is a fantastic reserve and well worth the trip. All the best and good luck for tomorrow 👍🏻

Your videos are so expertly done. You followed that owl so well. Enjoyed your snaps of this gorgeous Short-eared Owl and Barn Owl. I'd love to study one like this!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your kind words, I really appreciate it. All the very best 😊

Had six were i live Trimley seem to have moved on now look forward to there return i got some great photos to great video excellent photos

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much. It must be great to have them on your doorstep, hope they return for you 👍🏻

I was there while you were!!! I’m the plonker who said I’d panicked at the lower gate🫣when I saw you at the top viewing area! Great day! I want a selfie next time 😂

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

😂😂😂 it was a pleasure to meet you, up for a selfie anytime. All the very best 👍🏻

That made me emotional and yet again you inspire and make folks smile with your upbeat presentation. Thank you. 👊

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

One of the best comments I’ve read, thank you I really appreciate it Mark. All the very best 👍🏻

Great shots and videos Dan... agree with you its an amazing place, was there Saturday myself.... 2.5 hours from Skipton but Sooooooooooo worth it, 2 x Barn Owls and 2 x SEO

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Andy, sounds like you had a fantastic day very similar to mine. All the very best 👍🏻

Fabulous images and footage Dan we have similar numbers here in Kent and lovely to see and photograph👍

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much. Seems like we have had a good number from the continent this year along with other species such as the waxwings 👍🏻

Fantastic photos Dan, especially like that one of the SEO diving around the 20 min mark. We were at Bempton a couple of weeks ago - cold, windy and damp...but there were at least 4 SEOs, Barn Owl, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel too. I got some photos too. Brilliant day.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Richard, sounds like you had a day very similar to mine with some great shots to boot. All the best 👍🏻

Awesome

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍🏻

Wow what an incredible day out. Im definitely going to have to make a trip out there some time. Just wish it wasn't a 5hr drive to get there! Another fantastic video Dan 👌🏻

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Jonathan, that is a long trip so probably worth making it a weekend 😂 I’m sure that there will be a location closer with the Shorties, they seem to be popping up all over the country. Where are you based?

@jon_green_photography

6 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography Thanks. I live in North East Somerset between Bristol and Bath. I've heard Aust is a great place although I think they have probably moved on by now.

Superd content Dan not been to Bempton cliffs yet but its on the to list 👌👍

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much. Definitely worth the trip, a truly fabulous reserve 👍🏻

Wow amazingly blessed day. I always love when nature gives me a day like this.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks Eric, it’s amazing when you get a day like this isn’t it. All the best

Awesome! We've had them some years at the local wetland, but there weren't any last year and there's only been one seen passing through so far... but hopefully I'll get some this season! Can't recommend that waterproof cover enough - I've got the same one. While the camera and lenses are weather sealed, being damp for a long time is bad news, so being able to dry them more quickly has to be a good thing!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Geoff, always a pleasure reading your comments. I totally agree with you about having your kit out for long periods of wet weather. All the very best mate 👍🏻

Fantastic photography as usual Dan

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much, always appreciate it 👍🏻

Gorgeous video as usual, I was supposed to go yesterday but couldn't in the end. Thanks

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Alex, hopefully you will be able to get to the reserve soon 👍🏻

Hi Dan, a fairly new subscriber so catching up on your videos, I have been to Bempton for the Gannets but knew nothing about the owls being there later in the year so that's a great heads up so I can see me and my two photography buddies booking a couple of nights stay over there next year. BTW just watched your video from the Trossachs Osprey hide and I must say I would have been gutted if I had travelled all that way and paid for that hide, as soon as I saw it I thought that looks terrible quite a distance from the water and long grasses obscuring the view. We went to Horn Mill Osprey hide last year and that setup is brilliant fantastic unobstructed view and a spotter. I know you have been there so you must have been really disappointed with the Trossachs hide. Anyway keep up the great work mate I have more of your videos to watch so cheerio for now.😁👍

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Kevin, I can definitely recommend a winter visit to Bempton definitely worth a trip. Thanks for the subscription it’s really appreciated. Trossachs is very new and I hope with feedback that many have provided that they might make some alterations as it really does have potential. Horn Mill will definitely be featuring on a video in 2024 for sure. All the very best 👍🏻

Wow outstanding photos Dan and I am pleased that you had such a wonderful time.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thank you very much Kathryn I really appreciate it 😊

mazing, I need to have a ride up there soon!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Cheers mate, definitely worth the trip 👍🏻

Would have been my best day ever for sure as l still trying to get my first owl in wild shot.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Get yourself to Bempton Cliffs, really good chance of seeing multiple owls 👍🏻

@isotechimages.9130

6 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography Unfortunately too long a trip from here in Australia.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

@@isotechimages.9130 very fair comment, I’m sure you can trump me on the amazing wildlife you get though 👍🏻

What a fabulous day Dan. One we all dream of! Super video 👏👏👏👏

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Julian, it certainly was an epic day. All the very best 👍🏻

Great video and stills mate, days like this make all the effort you put in worthwhile. Theirs something magical about short eared owls, I could watch them all day.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

I know what you mean, they really are a magnificent bird. Thanks very much for your comment and continued support it really is appreciated 👍🏻

Great video Dan, you really did have a great day. Never seen a short eared owl but going up to Whitby over Xmas so might just pop down to Bempton.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Ian, I would definitely consider dropping into Bempton from what I’ve heard they are showing really well most days. If it’s heavy rain probably not worth it. All the best mate 👍🏻

@ianwilsonwildlifephotography

6 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography yes it looks to only be an hour away but will bear there weather in mind. 👍😃

What a fantastic adventure! Beautiful images and great light!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

Thanks for sharing. Great opportunity with the different species.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much James, really appreciate it 👍🏻

Wow! Just amazing! I always enjoy watching your videos. And those Barn Owl shots are jaw dropping!The Short-eared Owls are just showing up here in Ohio, USA. Can I ask what settings you use for the owls in flight? I’ve been using a small custom box and 3D but wondering if something wider would work better. Thanks so much!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much. Settings wise I personally always shoot wide open to whatever your lenses widest aperture is. Then shutter speed is always above 1/1000s but the highest I can get away with before pushing ISO above 5000. Hope that helps and all the best 👍🏻

Wow. What a day and some very nice shots too!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Neil 👍🏻

Enjoyed this. Myself and my partner were standing next to you this day at Bempton. Having seen your photos, karen now wants a 400mm f2.8 to replace her 300mm f4. Thanks. Just cost me £3000 or a divorce. Or both! Lol

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Oh this comment made me chuckle. Absolute pleasure to meet you both and Karen certainly does have a great taste in quality lens choices. Sorry mate £3K it is 👍🏻 All the very best to you both 😁

Wow ,some stunning photos & video .Probably my favourite vlog from you so far

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Cheers Gary that’s a fantastic comment to read, I really appreciate it mate 👍🏻

Banner day! What an adventure - my favorite shot was the two short-eared owls interacting. Great work!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Freeman, I always enjoy reading your comments. All the best 👍🏻

Another stunning video Dan some of the images are outstanding . A real red letter day for you . Bempton is a stunning place but I’ve never been at this time of year , but that might change soon . Thanks for your hard work showing us these delightful birds 🦉🦉👏👏

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Stephen, I really appreciate your kind words. I can definitely recommend a winter visit and hope you get a similar experience if you do 👍🏻

Absolutely wonderful, you have the appropriate gear to make these awesome videos and pictures. I love it.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thank you very much, really appreciate it 👍🏻

Yet another fantastic vlog. Just spectacular images dan it a shame that pops wasn’t with you

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much John 👍🏻

I love owl photography

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Me too 👍🏻

Just brilliant Dan … I was one of those in the warden walk who came up and saw these lovely birds. My little camera was out of its depth with the distances involved, so it’s fabulous to see your shots!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

I’m glad you enjoyed the video and the photos. It really was a magical experience 😊

Fantastic video and stills, Dan. Great pitch, flow and audio. Brilliant and loved it 😊

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, really appreciate your comment 👍🏻

Absolutely superb in every respect . Knowledgeable in both camera and subject and a voice that is so relaxing and pleasure to listen to . You are very skilled in production too . Always a pleasure and look forward to many more because you never disappoint .

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Wow that is a fantastic comment to read I really appreciate your kind words. All the very best 👍🏻

Great captures Dan, looks like you had better luck than when I went🙄🙈 I see new lens is doing a sterling job!Was this a recent visit to Bempton?

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much. I’m really impressed with the results from the new lens. The trip was recent, I went on 25/11/2023. All the best mate 👍🏻

Great video with some superb images , where exactly is the owl viewing platform ?

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment. The owl viewing platform is, as you drive out of the car park it’s just on the left as you start to climb the hill 👍🏻

Hello Dan, fantastic images of the two owls with a very nice light, you didn't waste your time, me for the swamp owls I compensate at -0.3 for the clarity of the underwings but your pictures are great

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your response and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on exposure utilising exposure compensation for the underwings 👍🏻

wow mate, what an incredible day you had! Some absolutely stunning photos & footage - well in pal

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Cheers Marc, looking forward to our session with the Hares 👍🏻

A fantastic video,Dan,some amazing captures.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much I appreciate it 👍🏻

Lovely film Dan. Must try harder with these. Rain was the killer today.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Dave, might just give a more local location a try for my next SEO trip 👍🏻

Outstanding images!

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 👍🏻

Great stuff, Dan - hope to see you up there at some point - it certainly is an amazing place for Owls 😊

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Cheers Steve, please do come and say hello if we cross paths it’s always great to speak to likeminded people. All the best mate 👍🏻

Loved this video! Thank you for all the info about the short eared owls, really interesting. Wonderful footage and great photos. Good to see the barn owl too. Hope to see Pops back with you again soon.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Debbie I really appreciate your kind words 👍🏻

Another super video Dan, fabulous photos too, I hope you did the Lottery because your luck was definitely in

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Derek, I keep playing the lottery and if there was a prize for consecutively picking 6 numbers not to be drawn I’d be a rich man 😂

Cracking video, Cracking images and a credit to you Dan. Always enjoy watching your videos they are brilliant and informative. I always struggle locking on to birds in flight and what combination of focal points to use on my DSLR Canon 5D MKIII. Any advice appreciated.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Colin really appreciate your response and ongoing support. For focal points when using a DSLR I almost exclusively used single point on my D500 with reasonable success. I would however switch to group points for erratic fast moving subjects. The next thing I did and this made a huge difference (don’t mean teach a grandma to suck eggs with this comment so apologies in advance) was practice in my back garden. I would use a target such as a small soft toy and position it against difficult backgrounds and then repeatedly draw my camera to my eye and practice focusing on it. I think that this is one of the hardest elements to get right and something often overlooked by photographers. Before doing this when I brought my camera to my eye with a long telephoto lens I would struggle to find the subject leading to many missed shots. Hope this helps, all the best 👍🏻

@colinwoods4450

6 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography Thanks for taking the time to respond Dan. The guidance you have provided is appreciated.

Absolutely brilliant Dan.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Cheers Craig, always appreciated 👍🏻

A fantastic video of a wonderful birding day Dan. Those stills are amongst the best, if not the best, I have seeen of the Bempton SEOs, and there have been many posted this year. The owls visit every year, but this year they seem to be greater in nos, and more active in the area you covered. I was in the same spot as you a few weeks ago, there were a pair that day plus the barn owl. Very enjoyable just to watch them hunting, plus getting photos of them of course.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Rob, that’s a fantastic compliment to read and I really appreciate you taking the time to say so. All the very best mate 👍🏻

Sensational, Dan! Well worth the journey and the rain breaks. I am really lucky to have shorties about five minutes from me, although I have yet to see a barn owl, sparrowhawk and kestrel all at the same time. No wonder you were buzzing. Subbed , 👍🏻 Steve.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Steve and thanks for the sub, really appreciate it. I wish I had Shorties a bit closer, they are a fantastic subject 👍🏻

Dan, you're very fortunate to get these beauties during the day! I've only seen two, the last last Aprils, at the same refuge in northeastern Massachusetts. They began hunting at sundown. Great colors in the sky but high noise, but I was still able to get some great banking shots, and the first one perched for me for a bit. Your shot of the two of them was awesome! And a barn owl to boot! Is your area experiencing a boom in raptor activity in general? We're definitely experiencing it. Many Northern Harrier and Red-tailed hawks around all of a sudden. A barn owl showed up a few weeks ago, outside its normal range, and every photographer I know was there pretty much. Fortunately it was in a tree far from the beach boardwalk, so it was undisturbed but with enough focal length you could get a decent picture. I was surprised how caramel-colored the barn owl's body was. Yours was more white like I would have expected.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much for your comment and for sharing your experiences from the other side of the pond. Yes we are experiencing a huge influx of migratory birds from Europe, which usually indicates a bad winter. The Short Eared Owls have certainly gone up in numbers and are being spotted up and down the country. You do get variations on colouration of Barn Owls and indeed other birds, sometimes linked to diet and feeding area. I photographed a pair of Peregrine’s earlier this year, the female had an almost orange chest due to the area she was catching prey from. All the best 👍🏻

AGAIN another video where there's not enough superlatives to describe the "footage"or "stills" that's you have captured, the best 25 minutes or so of my week and I can't wait to see what you photograph next. Thanks so much for the time and effort you put into your videos they never fail to inspire me to get out with my camera. Cheers Dan 👍👍 P.S, hope "pops" is well 😉😉

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Allan, it’s comments such as yours which are my motivation to get out and make these videos. Really appreciate it 👍🏻

Another quality video Dan. Some great images. My local reserve has 7-8 shorties and I was lucky to photograph them before I fractured my wrist. Hoping my cast comes off tomorrow so I can get out with my z9 and z800 and take some more images of them. If mine turn out half as good as yours I’d be happy. Keep up the good work Dan, I look forward to your videos every Sunday. Top work mate

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much David, sorry to read that you have fractured your wrist and I’m wishing you a speedy recovery so you can get back out with your camera. All the very best 👍🏻

Great video Dan 👍🏼

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Cheers Sam, appreciate it mate 👍🏻

Great video and fantastic photos, I'm finding it very hard to focus on short eared owls as they move faster than people think. Can I ask what focus points you use and do you go into case settings and adjust the sensitivity of the focus tracking as half my photos are blurred. Thanks IAV

@danwillis_photography

5 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Sean and a great question. I think you are absolutely right and people genuinely underestimate SEO’s speed, they look graceful yet they cover ground really quickly. If you are getting blurred images (apologies if I am teaching grandma to suck eggs) then the first thing to consider is shutter speed. Most of the flight images at Bempton were 1/2000 of a second. If shutter speed is not an issue then the next thing to consider is autofocus. For most of my photography I use 3D tracking with animal eye recognition and bird subject. However on this day that would not lock onto the subject no matter how hard I tried. Most shots were achieved using wide area small which I have setup to the shutter button with 3D on the back button. On the odd occasion this failed I have the top front programmable button set to single point, the method I was so use to with my D500. I use this as my get of jail card. I don’t change the sensitivity of the focus tracking unless I know the subject is likely to pass in front of obstructions such as hares in a field. Hope this helps and all the very best 👍🏻

@seanmarah6886

5 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography thanks very much for replying, I don't have animal focusing yet as I have the canon 7D but if it's a game changer then I'll probably buy a new camera. Keep up the good work.

A great video, Dan. I'm hoping to photograph shorties local to me in the next week or so.

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Cheers Lee, good luck and I hope you get some fantastic shots 👍🏻

Amazing .....

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Alan 👍🏻

Where did you set up… as you walk down the path from the cafe and get to the T junction did you turn left or right

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

I don’t enter the main reserve, from the main car park if you were to drive out the owl viewing platform is on your left just before you leave the car park 👍🏻

@pjbaddict

6 ай бұрын

@@danwillis_photography thank you very much

My wife saw your video from bempton and has booked me a cottage for 3 days in May for my birthday today. Any advice would be helpful. Are there any other spots along that coast you would recommend. Like you it's a 3 hour drive so want to get the most.

@danwillis_photography

5 ай бұрын

That sounds absolutely fantastic and it will be at a great time, showing Bempton at its best. I have copied a video I made from a much earlier visit where I travelled further north to Filey and a place called Brighouses which is well worth a visit and I managed to photograph a purple sandpiper. Bempton Cliffs Photographic Adventure kzread.info/dash/bejne/o3WiyNKfqsm9fbw.html Bridlington is also always worth a visit at low tide for waders and if you wanted a drive out Hornsea is fantastic, the beach for waders and the mere for Hobby chasing dragonflies and Marsh Harrier. Hope that helps and you have a fantastic trip 👍🏻

@steveoldham4462

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Dan for the tips sounds a great spot.

Do you mean to upload these videos in a live chat?? I've not seen anyone else do this before

@danwillis_photography

6 ай бұрын

Wasn’t aware that I had, purely accidental 😂😂😂