The Best Nature Reserves for Wildlife Photography in Yorkshire

The Best Nature Reserves for Wildlife Photography in Yorkshire

Yorkshire nature reserves for wildlife photography offer some of the best opportunities to photograph birds, mammals and landscapes across the county. From peaceful wetlands and ancient woodland to dramatic coastal cliffs, Yorkshire has an incredible variety of habitats to explore with a camera.

From the wetlands around Ripon and Staveley to the spectacular seabird colonies at Bempton Cliffs, there are plenty of places to explore with a camera.

In this guide, I’ve picked some of the best nature reserves for wildlife photography in Yorkshire, with a particular focus on locations that offer excellent opportunities for photographing birds and other wildlife.

1. Staveley Nature Reserve, North Yorkshire

Staveley Nature Reserve is one of my favourite places to recommend for wildlife photography in North Yorkshire.

Located near Boroughbridge, Staveley is a fascinating wetland reserve made up of lagoons, reedbeds, fen, grassland and scrub. The variety of habitats attracts a wide range of wildlife throughout the year.

Bird photographers can look for species such as kingfishers, herons, ducks, waders, kestrels, red kites and other wetland birds. Otters and roe deer can also be seen.

The reserve has several hides and a mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced paths, giving photographers different opportunities to explore.

It is also a good place to practise photographing birds in changing light, particularly during the early morning and late afternoon.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has also held dedicated wildlife photography workshops at Staveley, highlighting its suitability for photographers.

Photography tip: Take a longer lens for birds, but don’t forget a shorter lens for landscape images showing the wetlands and surrounding countryside.

Visit Staveley Nature Reserve – Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

2. Ripon City Wetlands, North Yorkshire

Ripon City Wetlands – YWT is another excellent location for wildlife photography in North Yorkshire.

Situated close to Ripon, the wetlands provide a mixture of habitats that attract a variety of birds and other wildlife.

For photographers, wetlands can be particularly rewarding because they provide opportunities for waterfowl, waders and birds in flight, as well as atmospheric landscape photography.

The changing seasons also make the reserve worth returning to throughout the year. Spring can bring nesting birds and fresh vegetation, while autumn and winter can provide misty mornings, reflections and larger numbers of wintering birds.

For me, locations such as Ripon City Wetlands demonstrate how rewarding it can be to photograph wildlife close to home.

3. RSPB Bempton Cliffs, East Yorkshire

RSPB Bempton Cliffs is one of Yorkshire’s most spectacular wildlife photography locations.

The chalk cliffs overlooking the North Sea provide a dramatic setting for photographing seabirds. During the breeding season, the cliffs become home to huge numbers of birds, creating some fantastic opportunities for action photography.

You can photograph gannets, puffins, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes, along with other coastal wildlife.

The combination of birds, cliffs and sea also makes Bempton particularly interesting for landscape photographers.

When photographing birds in flight here, a fast shutter speed can help freeze the action. However, don’t concentrate entirely on close-up bird portraits. Including the cliffs and sea in your composition can produce much more powerful images.

Visit RSPB Bempton Cliffs

4. RSPB Fairburn Ings, West Yorkshire

RSPB Fairburn Ings is another excellent destination for wildlife photography.

The reserve contains a mixture of wetlands, woodland and grassland, creating opportunities to photograph a wide range of species.

Wetland birds can provide excellent subjects, particularly when the light is low and reflections appear across the water.

Fairburn Ings is also a useful location for photographers wanting to practise different techniques because the variety of habitats means there is usually something interesting to photograph.

Try visiting early in the morning when wildlife can be more active and the light is softer.

Visit RSPB Fairburn Ings

5. Askham Bog, York

Askham Bog Nature Reserve – Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is a fascinating location just outside York.

This ancient peatland reserve contains woodland and wetland habitats and supports a wide range of wildlife. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust lists species including nuthatch, treecreeper, great spotted woodpecker, red kite, kestrel, sparrowhawk and roe deer.

It can be particularly rewarding for woodland bird photography.

Look carefully among the trees and vegetation rather than simply concentrating on obvious open areas. Small woodland birds can appear suddenly, so having your camera ready is important.

The reserve is also a good reminder that wildlife photography isn’t always about finding spectacular animals. Sometimes the best photographs come from observing smaller details in a habitat.

Photography tip: In woodland, watch your ISO and shutter speed carefully. Low light can make it tempting to use a shutter speed that is too slow for moving birds.

6. Spurn National Nature Reserve, East Yorkshire

Spurn National Nature Reserve – Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is one of Yorkshire’s most distinctive wildlife locations.

Spurn is a constantly changing peninsula between the North Sea and Humber Estuary. Its unusual geography makes it an important location for wildlife and a fascinating place for photographers.

Bird migration can make Spurn particularly exciting, while the surrounding coastline provides opportunities for landscape photography as well.

It is also somewhere where the weather can become part of the photograph. Dramatic skies, wind, sea and changing light can all add atmosphere.

Because Spurn is exposed to the elements and conditions can change, always check the latest access information before visiting. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust currently advises visitors to check with the Discovery Centre for up-to-date information following recent high tides and coastal erosion.

7. North Cave Wetlands

North Cave Wetlands in East Yorkshire is another excellent wetland location for bird photography.

The reserve has developed from former quarry workings into an important wildlife habitat. Wetland environments like this can be particularly productive for photographers looking for ducks, waders and other waterbirds.

The relatively open landscape can also make it easier to photograph birds in flight compared with dense woodland.

Try positioning yourself where you have a clear background behind your subject. A clean background can make a significant difference to a wildlife photograph.

North Cave Wetlands – Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

8. RSPB St Aidan’s, West Yorkshire

RSPB St Aidan’s is a large wetland nature park near Leeds and another excellent option for wildlife photographers.

Its mixture of wetland habitats creates opportunities for photographing birds throughout the year.

The open environment can be particularly useful for practising birds-in-flight photography, while the changing seasons provide different subjects and photographic conditions.

As with many wetland reserves, patience is important. Rather than constantly walking from place to place, find a promising location, settle down and observe what is happening around you.

Visit RSPB St Aidan’s

Choosing the Right Nature Reserve for Wildlife Photography

Different reserves offer different photographic opportunities.

If you’re particularly interested in woodland birds, locations such as Askham Bog can be rewarding.

For wetland and waterbird photography, Staveley, Ripon City Wetlands, Fairburn Ings and North Cave Wetlands are excellent choices.

If seabirds and birds in flight are your priority, Bempton Cliffs should be high on your list.

And if you enjoy combining wildlife photography with dramatic landscapes, Spurn offers something completely different.

The important thing is not simply to visit as many reserves as possible. Returning to the same location regularly can often produce better photographs because you begin to understand the wildlife, the light and the best places to position yourself.

The Best Time to Visit Yorkshire’s Nature Reserves

There isn’t really a bad time of year for wildlife photography in Yorkshire.

Spring

Spring brings nesting birds, fresh vegetation and increasing insect activity.

It can be an excellent time for woodland photography and photographing birds feeding young.

Summer

Longer daylight hours give you plenty of time to explore.

Early mornings can provide beautiful soft light, while coastal locations such as Bempton Cliffs can be particularly spectacular.

Autumn

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons for photography.

Changing foliage, misty mornings and migrating birds can create some wonderful opportunities.

Winter

Don’t overlook winter.

Wetlands can attract wintering birds, while low winter light can produce beautiful conditions for photography.

Cold mornings can also provide atmospheric landscapes and frost-covered vegetation.

Wildlife Photography Tips for Nature Reserves

Before heading out with your camera, there are a few things worth remembering.

Get there early

Early morning often gives you the best combination of wildlife activity and attractive light.

Take your time

Wildlife photography is rarely about rushing from one subject to another.

Find a good position, stay quiet and watch what happens.

Check your camera settings

For birds in flight, you will normally need a faster shutter speed than for a stationary subject.

If you’re still learning how to set up your camera, my guide to wildlife photography camera settings can help.

Read: Wildlife Photography Camera Settings Explained

Respect the wildlife

Always keep a safe distance and follow the rules of the reserve.

Never enter restricted areas or disturb nesting birds for the sake of a photograph.

Good wildlife photography should always put the welfare of the subject first.

Exploring Yorkshire with a Camera

One of the great things about Yorkshire wildlife photography is the variety of habitats available.

You can spend one morning photographing woodland birds, another photographing wetland species and another standing on the Yorkshire coast photographing seabirds against dramatic cliffs.

For photographers based in or around North Yorkshire, there are also many excellent locations close to home.

I’ve photographed wildlife and landscapes across the Yorkshire countryside, and I believe that some of the best images can come from taking the time to explore familiar places rather than always travelling somewhere new.

If you’d like to discover more locations, take a look at my guide to the best places for wildlife photography in North Yorkshire.

Read: Best Places for Wildlife Photography in North Yorkshire

 

See More Yorkshire Wildlife Photography

I hope this guide has given you some inspiration for your next wildlife photography trip.

Yorkshire has an incredible variety of wildlife and landscapes, and every visit to a nature reserve can produce something different.

Whether you’re photographing a kingfisher at a Yorkshire wetland, an owl in woodland, a kestrel hovering over a field or seabirds flying above the cliffs, patience and good light can make all the difference.

You can explore more of my Yorkshire wildlife photography and see some of the places and subjects that inspire my own work.

If you’re looking for a photograph of Yorkshire wildlife or the countryside to display at home, you can also visit the J P Watson Photography Webshop.

Final Thoughts

The best nature reserve for wildlife photography isn’t necessarily the biggest or most famous one.

Sometimes it’s the reserve you can return to regularly, learning where the birds feed, where the light falls and when particular species are most active.

For me, Staveley, Ripon City Wetlands and the wider North Yorkshire countryside provide exactly that opportunity.

So take your camera, slow down, watch the wildlife and enjoy exploring some of the best nature reserves that Yorkshire has to offer.