Photographers share favourite spots in Bury to capture wildlife

Colin Wilson and Gary Taylor regularly take pictures of nature and share it on popular Facebook groups.

Colin, 76, lists Holcombe Moor as one of his best spots to snap wildlife such as small owls, green woodpeckers, kestrels, buzzards and even parahawks.

He said: “It's nice to be able to share the nature that's quite local to us with people that would not normally see that wildlife or may not be able to get out to see it.”

Colin Wilson on Holcombe Moor with Peel Tower (Image: Public)

Borough wildlife (Image: Colin Wilson)

Like many residents, Burrs Country Park is also among his favourite locations for seeing wildlife.

He said: “I glanced sideways across the field once and there was a fox just sat there in the field, sunning himself.

"It's great just to suddenly come across something like that by just keeping your eyes open."

Colin has enjoyed photography all his life but found his true passion in taking pictures of wildlife six years ago.

Despite not claiming to be a professional, Colin said his best photosgraphs are achieved through a long lens.

He does this “so I'm not interfering with the nest and the field of craft that is not getting too close".

Borough wildlife (Image: Colin Wilson)

Colin's dedication to not interfering with the daily life of the animals has allowed him to capture the lives of deer that roam in areas close to Ramsbottom.

He said: “You can observe them just going about their daily life, just eating the grass, eating the shrubbery, and interacting with one another.

"It feels really good because you can walk away, and you feel that they don't even know that you've been there.”

Ramsbottom photographer Gary has expressed worry after noticing a decline in the number of birds migrating in the area in the spring.

But he said he is aware this is not a localised problem and has found joy in capturing the ones he can find.

Gary Taylor on Holcombe Moor with his friend's dog Eric, who sometimes accompanies him (Image: Public)

Spending his time working on ways to remain unseen to capture the best photos, he said: “I often sit in my hide on the River Irwell to photograph the kingfishers.

"The river is very clean, not like when I was growing up where it was many colours and smelt bad.

"Now it's got kingfishers, dippers, wagtails, herons, egrets and is full of fish.”

Gary Taylor in his camouflage photographing kingfishers in Ramsbottom (Image: Public)

Borough wildlife (Image: Gary Taylor)

Gary said his best experiences so far had been encountering a family of foxes and a more bizarre encounter.

He added: “This year there was a pair of kestrels that nested in a site which was unusual being the centre of Ramsbottom. They had four chicks raised and fledged, it was brilliant to see and photograph.”

“Nature and wildlife should be taught in some way in schools. Kids grow up not knowing what's around them if they don't know then how they can protect it from developers in the future.”