<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Digital Nature UK]]></title><description><![CDATA[Digital Nature UK]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:22:23 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.digital-nature.uk/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[January 2026 - What a month!]]></title><description><![CDATA[Since being bitten by the nature photography bug in May 2023 I think I have only had one week where I did not get "into the field" to take photographs. This changed in January of 2026 which gave us almost a continuous month in steel grey skies, intense rain, and dense fog. I have learned to deal with each of these weather types individually, but not when all three exist at the same time. Eurasian Wigeon on a cold January 3rd 2026 The only exception to this was the third of January which was a...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/january-2026-what-a-month</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d81f4b4e4fe2e3f72b2467</guid><pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 23:01:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_29a04a5b8f41446aa397e077d7580bd0~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Going Prime]]></title><description><![CDATA[As regular readers of this blog will know I have been trying out a lot of new gear over the last six months. The switch from full frame to micro four thirds (MFT) has been a game changer in terms of the extra reach, and in my experience at least, has made negligible difference to my ability to operate in low light. Before I sold my full frame gear to  MPB  I took it and the MFT kit to a local hide just before dawn. A quick unscientific comparison between the two suggested that whilst the full...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/going-prime</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d82c16c55f668b53082c92</guid><pubDate>Sat, 13 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_b1b0a0755d42445abcd39dfe0e07c4b9~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A second camera body?]]></title><description><![CDATA[After my flurry of purchases in August when switching from full frame to micro four thirds I have been learning the vagaries of my new equipment. Despite buying three excellent OM M.Zuiko lenses (the 12-40mm F2.8, the 40-150mm F2.8, and the 100-400 F5.0-F6.3) I soon noticed that it was the 100-400 staying welded to my camera. As with the Canon R6 Mk2 and Sigma 150-600 contemporary lens, I was too nervous of missing "wildlife opportunities" to risk experimenting with the other lenses. My OM1...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/a-second-camera-body</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d836c24e4fe2e3f72b5708</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_491167b84f4f4e318b28acbcad3b0e58~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A hectic six weeks ...]]></title><description><![CDATA[In a very exciting period I have been lucky enough to switch to the micro four thirds system in the form of an OM1 Mk 2 with 3 lenses, acquire  a 15" Mac book Air 2025 for image editing, splash out on a DJI Action 5 Pro camera with DJI mini mic's, and evaluate various photo editing software before settling on my original choice of the open source Darktable. Needless to say I also had to sell my Canon R6 Mk2 and full frame lenses to help pay for all this extravagance, getting a very good price...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/a-hectic-six-weeks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d90f4875afb0779a6f2ee2</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:06:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_039e1ce489f5472e8d7e127d7fb28201~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Moving to the dark side.]]></title><description><![CDATA[After 18 months of using a full-frame Canon r6 Mk2, usually coupled with a Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens, I decided it is time for a change. The OM1 Mk2 (top) compared to the Canon R6 Mk2 Until I saw a YouTube video by  Waterfall Joe  I had not realised that the OM series of camera's were weather sealed to a certified standard. Given the obvious savings in size, weight, and the outstanding image stabilisation system, it was an easy choice to make the change. A juvenile black headed gull, my...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/moving-to-the-dark-side</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d916e946e8409f60b1115c</guid><pubDate>Sat, 16 Aug 2025 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_ab5c2c077fd346eb99e6e1e645c3a1da~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fun in the rain - well after it anyway]]></title><description><![CDATA[After a very dry but not very sunny spring in North Yorkshire, and several weeks of a dry and dusty summer, it is not surprising that the local wildlife has not been feeling particularly energetic of late. However a couple of days of thundery downpours has certainly changed that for the better. A windswept grey heron just after a down pour One of my regular sunrise visits to the  High Batts Nature Reserve   luckily coincided with a few hours break in the very welcome rain last weekend. The...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/fun-in-the-rain-well-after-it-anyway</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d921b861f85fcf9f7c025c</guid><pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_2f75854678fd4ff8816dece5123aec28~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Now shooting in RAW]]></title><description><![CDATA[For my first two years as a photographer I had my hands full simply learning to keep the subject in frame, in focus, and if extremely lucky in a good range of colour. With all that in mind it was an simple decision to ignore the issue of "digital development" and shoot in jpeg. A moorhen shot in RAW with basic noise reduction in Darktable. With a Ph. D. in Physics and experience in environmental data management, I have always been IT "literate", working primarily with the Linux operating...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/now-shooting-in-raw</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d9269d75afb0779a6f6241</guid><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_f9e0cb83451e44cf82bb4137a6e1d065~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My two year anniversary.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Late May is the anniversary of my take up of digital photography after I discovered the existence of digital mirrorless cameras in May 2023. As a total novice my first year was spent learning the basics of photography and working out what sort of gear worked for me. I started my journey with the  Lumix FZ82  bridge camera which I highly recommend for anyone trying our wildlife photography for the first time. Bitten by the bug, and thanks to  MPB  buying my "old" kit at a good price, I quickly...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/my-two-year-anniversary</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d9446346e8409f60b17888</guid><pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_6154fbd608f5400d9ac7c399a5b567ac~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[March munchies]]></title><description><![CDATA[Spring is finally springing in North Yorkshire with even the sun making an occasional appearance. Happily this means an increased food supply for the local wildlife, even if some of the wildlife fall victim to becoming a meal. Their energy is needed to start build nests and then to start "building" more wildlife  A chaffinch having a breakfast snack. Merganser duck feeding on a fish. I am slightly concerned about the local frog population after this heron breakfasted on two of them in the...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/march-munchies</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d95ce24750526d40bd7518</guid><pubDate>Sun, 30 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_9259f89cf20347c1bab203b40edcd59a~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A month of firsts.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The biggest first achieved this month is one that I do not want to experience again, namely 16 consecutive days with complete cloud cover. Steel grey skies for that amount of time is obviously not conducive to wildlife photography, but they did push me to scout out some new locations. My first Otter on land My first "perched" Buzzard Visiting the  Ben Rhydding Nature Reserve  the lack of light caused me to have an ISO of 25600 for my first picture of an otter on land, but quite frankly I did...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/a-month-of-firsts</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d965da46e8409f60b1c2f4</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_d92ba6093ff7480e834fc5565b9ec439~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Shooting moving targets]]></title><description><![CDATA[Having studied  Jan Wegener's excellent Youtube videos  on bird flight photography I decided to put a few of his tips into practice. Looking through a zoom lens to find an in-flight bird has always been a problem me, and a priority to solve. The suggestion was to first follow the bird with the lens without using the view finder, then putting the camera to your eye when you think you are on target. It requires practice to get it right, but well worth the effort. Incoming! In the event I was...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/shooting-moving-targets</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d96a6646e8409f60b1cc56</guid><pubDate>Sat, 25 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_52313e89aa36432ca6c08974ccbad512~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[First tripod use.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Although I have been practising nature photography for the last 18 months, and owned some sort of tripod for that entire time, this Xmas was the first time that I tried to use one in anger. My first attempt at the  Ben Rhydding Nature Reserve  was a total disaster which had me swearing never to use one ever again. I was trying to capture a "decent" picture of a red Kite. However I felt constrained by the tripod and missed several other "targets of opportunity" due to the camera being locked...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/first-tripod-use</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d96e3946e8409f60b1d4ac</guid><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_bea20fe2e8b24a26b4804aec7f4c43ec~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A sunny day in North Yorkshire??]]></title><description><![CDATA[As with the most of the UK we have been very short on sunshine, especially on the days I have available for photography. Imagine my delight when the weather app predicted a sunny Saturday, and my absolute amazement when they turned out to be correct! Staveley nature reserve  looks glorious at sunrise and the wetlands attract a wide variety of bird life. It is certainly the place to practice capturing birds in flight and, if you walk the full perimeter, get some good exercise walking the edge...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/a-sunny-day-in-north-yorkshire</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d973b84750526d40bdaa02</guid><pubDate>Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_738b1c79eb3447ad93ede03d74f3891c~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Staveley Nature Reserve - my new local wetland.]]></title><description><![CDATA[In the month of November I discovered the Yorkshire Wildlife Trusts  Staveley Nature Reserve  located between Harrogate and Ripon. It is easily accessible and looks stunning in the rare Yorkshire sunlight, both at dawn and dusk.  My visits to date have found it full of potential photo opportunities with with roe deer, photogenic farm stock, and a wide variety of bird life in evidence. The combination of hides, and a good circular 2 mile walk if you choose, has made it my new go to place. The...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/staveley-nature-reserve-my-new-local-wetland</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d9769d515c02011a0cbe3a</guid><pubDate>Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_9a9528e8735349c8a38de94d17df8d74~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ISO 25600 or 16000 ???]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the few disadvantages of photography in North Yorkshire is that you are often operating under steel grey skies just after dawn. In my case I am also usually under a canopy of trees. Although not ideal, this does bring the low light capabilities of the Canon R6 Mk2 come to the fore.  Hen Pheasant (ISO 25600) Robin (ISO 25600) Grey Squirrel (ISO 16000) This weekends experiments showed that images at 25600 were struggling with a pixelated background, but that images at ISO 16000 were...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/iso-25600-or-16000</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69da97fb8614fb4128aeaa89</guid><pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_6d246b69ed63427995b6040c72316d52~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The new "Ent" season has arrived]]></title><description><![CDATA[Now that the leaves are starting to fall it is time for one of my favourite games, searching for some of JRR Tolkiens "Ents". The two from "last season" were taken on my Canon R10 with a 100-400mm lens. This seasons starts as it means to continue using my new Canon R6 Mk 2. The lens is the Canon L f/4 24-105mm. An Ent enjoying the morning sun. 31st Dec 2023 Leaning into the wind. 4th Feb 2024 Caught in the afternoon sun. 19th Oct 2024]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/the-new-ent-season-has-arrived</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69da9a90f955c1c96626b423</guid><pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2024 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_caab14f990014dd2bd875a0f6f0681cb~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My new Cotton carrier G3 camera harness]]></title><description><![CDATA[Old harness. Cotton carrier harness in use. New cotton carrier G3 harness. One of the shocks of buying a 150-600mm Sigma zoom lens is how the heck do you carry it when scrambling around the countryside. After nearly falling 20ft into the river Nidd at  Nidd gorge , I decided that a camera harness which allows both hands to be free was an essential safety item! Although aware of the cotton carrier range, as a new photographer I could not justify their "expensive" prices at the time. My choice...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/my-new-cotton-carrier-g3-camera-harness</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69daa1ae8614fb4128aebfcc</guid><pubDate>Sat, 21 Sep 2024 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_f92ce02bcd8f46a1a3fc856b6d0d6c78~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Welcome to the "new" Digital Nature UK]]></title><description><![CDATA[Long tail tit. A landing great tit. A grey heron. Another upgrade to the website and hopefully the last for a while . The main changes are behind the scenes but allow for much quicker updates and a more diverse page layout. Moving into Autumn (I think I missed summer when adjusting a setting on my camera) I am hoping for some nice fresh days and clear skies for photography. Having added the wonderful  High Batts reserve  to my list of regular haunts I will be looking for even more in the...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/welcome-to-the-new-digital-nature-uk</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69daa4fa515c02011a0f45db</guid><pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2024 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_9bc7edac232649bba2bfcbe414fd5ca8~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My first kingfisher]]></title><description><![CDATA[A big first for me, whilst sitting in a hide at the  High Batts Nature Reserve , was seeing a stationary Kingfisher. The almost monochromatic background was all in camera, and caused by a combination of a steel grey sky with shards of sunlight coming through. The resulting grey reflections in the river caused chaos with the auto-focus, but gave a magnificent contrast to the colourful Kingfisher.]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/my-first-kingfisher</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69daa81575afb0779a72a55b</guid><pubDate>Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_41bf9181473d429b9477514d825bc6bc~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Small bird heaven.]]></title><description><![CDATA[The weekend just gone was a glorious weekend in terms of weather and I used it to scout out a nature reserve that is new to me. The  High Batts Nature Reserve  is a members only reserve situated within a private estate. As a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) it has a wide variety of flora and fauna, with access being managed for the benefit of both. Operating as a charity with an annual membership fee of £11.00 for individuals, it is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to...]]></description><link>https://www.digital-nature.uk/post/small-bird-heaven</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69daaa1053b999da2ddc50af</guid><pubDate>Sun, 11 Aug 2024 23:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6830d0_60e5ed7560f64c04a106eccb5ef9f4f7~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adrian</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>