December 2003

In the next couple of months, I will be visiting the New Forest to update my fallow deer collection. My aim is to photograph the deer with frost on their coats and antlers. Finding the deer is not a problem: picking a day with good light and no rain is. There should be some red deer around the area too; it will be mostly hinds as the stags will have disappeared after the rut and gone deep into the forest.

The area that I will be visiting is full of woodland birds and squirrels, so I have some subjects to fall back on if the deer don't co-operate. It helps that I have a couple of reliable friends in that area who are more than willing to help me out by letting me know where the deer are and their movements.

In the winter months, the Somerset Levels are home to some 50,000 Waterfowl giving me endless photographic opportunities. The RSPB and English Nature have built a number of big hides on the wetlands, so viewing these birds in all weathers shouldn't be a problem. I also have a friend who is a Falconer, owning a Barn Owl, Harris Hawk and a Gyr Peregrine and who has invited me to come and take some pictures when I'm free, so things could get interesting - watch this space!

All images © Copyright Brian Phipps