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ANDREW MASON
ADVENTURES OF A WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER GARDEN BIRDS
S A YOUNG BOY, I WOULD LISTEN AS MY native yew hedge around the garden that provides a habitat for
grandparents recounted stories of their lives birds to nest in and a variety of plants that supply food for birds
during the Second World War. My mother’s and the insects they feed off. I also have bird feeders that attract
father, having lied about his age, joined the Royal various species of birds. As a result, the garden is now visited by
Navy as an under-age seaman, served as a radio a wide range, from diminutive wrens to the local sparrowhawks.
A operator on the light cruiser HMS Newfoundland This winter, I had enjoyed the challenge of photographing a
and was present in Tokyo Bay when the Imperial Japanese sparrowhawk that had taken to perching obligingly under a bush
delegation formally surrendered on the American battleship in front of my kitchen window. With great care, I was able to open
USS Missouri. On returning home he married my grandmother the window and photograph this fierce bird. When the lockdown
who, together with her sister, had came into force, I decided it was time
worked in a local munitions factory to get serious about photographing my
while he was away, a dangerous job I’VE SPENT MANY garden birds. I set up a small canvas
that didn’t benefit from the modern HOURS IN MY HIDE hide at the bottom of my garden,
standards of health and safety. moved a bird feeder in front of it
Even with the peace that followed TO SEE BIRDS THAT and set up a few perches around the
the end of the hostilities, my feeder. After a short time, the garden
grandparents endured years of VISIT MY GARDEN birds had become used to this setup.
shortages and rationing. Their I set myself and my camera, with my
legacy is the freedom that I’ve benefited from during my life. 600mm lens attached, up in my hide in the early morning when
The last few months haven’t been easy, with the global spread the sun was coming from behind the hide and hitting the perches
of a virus that has sadly taken many lives around the world. straight on. I’d positioned the perches so that they were just past
For the first time in my life, restrictions have been placed on my the closest focusing distance of my 600mm lens and far enough in
freedom, restrictions that have, among other things, affected front of the yew hedge to render it a green blur in the background.
my work as a wildlife photographer. Without detracting from Over the last few weeks, I’ve spent many hours in my hide
the seriousness of the situation we’re now in, the restrictions photographing the birds that visit my garden, the most numerous
that have been placed on my freedom are far less than those my of which are the charm of goldfinches, finding solace in nature
grandparents endured for many years. during these difficult times.
My grandfather loved his garden. It wasn’t a particularly big or
grand garden, but he took great pride in it, in particular his roses
and the tomatoes he grew in a small greenhouse. While I cannot Andrew Mason is a lawyer turned wildlife and landscape
say I love gardening, since moving into my current home, I’ve photographer based in Staffordshire. He has been
worked on its small garden. It’s by no means finished but I have published worldwide and his clients include the RSPB
improved on the condition the builders left in it. I’ve planted a and The Wildlife Trusts. andrewmasonphoto.com
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