The Wildlife Wanderer and his photos | Discover Wildlife

About the photographer

David was born in the New Forest to a forester's family and has always had a deep love for nature. It wasn't until he moved to the Brecon Beacons in 2006 that he really picked up a camera. Following encouragement from other photoraphers, including Janet Baxter, he become a professional photographer.

He won the 2011 Welsh Wildlie Award, worked on BBC's Rhys Jones Wildlife Patrol, and appeared on BBC's Springwatch. In 2016, he was awarded the BrandLaureate International Personality Award.

View more of David's photos on his website

To view the images as a slideshow, click on the arrows in the top right hand corner of the photos below.

Hares are normally quite wary animals, but they become much braver during the boxing season. This hare came very close to David in the Brecon Beacons, allowing such a close up shot of its lovely facial markings. © David Bailey.

Salmon leaping upriver at Gilfach Nature Reserve in Rhayader, mid Wales. The right amount of rainfall is critical so there is enough water to swim upstream, without the water flow being too fast to swim against. © David Bailey.

Walking the salt flats at Lymington with his girlfriend, David saw this short-eared owl searching for prey. The owl quartered the field before hovering for a few seconds in front of David. © David Bailey.

Autumn is deer rutting season, one of David’s favourite times, where the stags become brave and unpredictable. They can be quite inquisitive, coming close to anybody in the area. © David Bailey. — Autumn is deer rutting season, one of David’s favourite times, where the stags become brave and unpredictable. They can be quite inquisitive, coming close to anybody in the area. © David Bailey.

A hind appears out of the mist in October, as the sun rises over the meadow. In the surroundings, stags bellow to gain female attention and assert their dominance. © David Bailey. — A hind appears out of the mist in October, as the sun rises over the meadow. In the surroundings, stags bellow to gain female attention and assert their dominance. © David Bailey.

This shot of a grey squirrel was taken with an ordinary camera, to demonstrate how you do not need expensive equipment to take good quality images. © David Bailey — This shot of a grey squirrel was taken with an ordinary camera, to demonstrate how you do not need expensive equipment to take good quality images. © David Bailey.

On a warm summers day in Dorset, damselflies can be found in the hundreds. David took this photo sat beside the River Stour whilst waiting for kingfishers. © David Bailey. — On a warm summers day in Dorset, damselflies can be found in the hundreds. David took this photo sat beside the River Stour whilst waiting for kingfishers. © David Bailey.

David photographed this as part of the research work for BBC’s Rhys Jones Wildlife Patrol series. This stoat had been reported in a loft robbing an airline pilot of some much needed sleep. © David Bailey.

An old cottage in Wiltshire becomes inundated with frogs every February, as they migrate to the village pond to mate. Their location is easily given away by their loud croaking as they go by. © David Bailey.

A darker coloured red squirrel, photographed at Plas Newydd, Anglesey. It’s a good example of the different colouration within the red population. This area is well known for its successful reintroduction of red squirrels. © David Bailey.

A red kite circles low to the ground in the Brecon Beacons. David was photographing the snowy landscape from a high position near a kite feeding station when this bird started circling low to the ground. © David Bailey.

A young tern sits on a post, along the coastline of Hampshire, whilst being fed by a doting parent. © David Bailey. — A young tern sits on a post, along the coastline of Hampshire, whilst being fed by a doting parent. © David Bailey.

A vixen plays with her cubs early in the morning. It took many days of sitting near the family before David was trusted near the cubs. Only then could he get these natural shots. © David Bailey. — A vixen plays with her cubs early in the morning. It took many days of sitting near the family before David was trusted near the cubs. Only then could he get these natural shots. © David Bailey.

David was hoping to capture photos of otters, but there was no sign. This egret landed within four metres of his hide to fish amongst the rocks. Coastlines like this are a plentiful food source for many birds in the UK. © David Bailey.

Wildlife wanderer. © David Bailey. — Wildlife wanderer. © David Bailey.