Some say that February is the quietest month of the year for birding, and from a number of species perspective, it’s probably true.

From a photographic perspective however, February presents some great photographic opportunities.

The sun is still quite low in the sky even at midday. Dawn and dusk are at reasonable times and don’t fall into the ‘silly o’clock’ bracket. There is still some great subjects to study. It can be just around timing.

The obvious thing to do is get out before dawn for some nice colour and drama and there’s no better place for that than on the banks of the Humber.Given that waders and wildfowl are the quarry, the tide times become all-important. To have any kind of meaningful session on the Humber, it has to co-incide with high tide, or more specifically just after as the mud is starting to appear and it is lit by the early morning glow of the sunrise.

There are also some great opportunities at both canal scrape and Kilnsea Wetlands hide especially in the first light-again the high tide period is best.

Finally late afternoon especially along the Skeffling to Welwick stretch can be brilliant for birds of prey but there are no guarantees and patience is most definitely the key.

One of the best places for afternoon photography can be straight off the Crown and Anchor car park photographing waders against a setting sun never disappoints again if the tide is right.

I have had some great sessions over the past few weeks and the best of my photos are below.

Thanks for reading.