Nick Hurst

Hello to all @Bsky world. I'm a wildlife photographer based in Suffolk in the United Kingdom. Just unpacked my bags here but so looking forward to sharing a journey together. #wildlife #nature #wildlifephotography #mountainhare

Newly hatched chicks are able to swim almost immediately, though they tire quickly. Their attentive parents protect them constantly, carrying them on their backs to keep them warm, safe, & hidden from predators. #BirdsOfBluesky #birds #NaturePhotography #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography

Protecting her young, this female Grebe chases after a dominant male that encroached on her territory. #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfBluesky #birds #NaturePhotography #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography

It's been over seven months I've been watching three pairs of Grebes close to home; and as the seasons change so does their behaviour. More challenges await as they raise & protect their young chicks. #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfBluesky #birds #NaturePhotography #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography

Gannets wheel, glide, & plunge across the chalk face with breathtaking precision. Moments captured from the incredible seabird colony at Bempton. #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfBluesky #Seabirds #NaturePhotography #ukwildlife

Atlantic puffins are perhaps the most sought after birds at Bempton. Around 4,000 breeding pairs are thought to use the cliffs & surrounding coastline. Razorbills are more abundant, numbering around 30,000. #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfBluesky #Seabirds #NaturePhotography #ukwildlife

The view looking out to sea from the cliff face at Bempton. My favourite time of day, when all is still in that twilight hour, just before sunrise. #seascape #Bempton #sunrise #coast

Moments captured from the meandering coastal path which frames Bempton Cliffs. #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfBluesky #Gannet #Seabirds #BritishWildlife #NaturePhotography #ukwildlife

Lost in contemplation along the cliff face at Bempton. Bempton Cliffs remains one of the finest places in Europe to experience the drama and diversity of seabird life. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

Nestled along the cliff face at Bempton Cliffs. Gannets are long-lived birds and often return to the same nest site and partner year after year. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

Shape and form as gannets ride the thermals along the cliff face at Bempton. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

The first rays of light cut and reflect off the sea, framing this Razorbill at sunrise. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

The briefest of moments, captured along the cliff face at Bempton, as Gannets rise with the thermals. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

Razorbills share many of the same ledges with the gannets. With black plumage & thick, blunt bills with a distinctive white line; they form strong pair bonds. Courtship displays involve bowing, bill-touching & mutual grooming. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

Gannets rise & fall catching the thermals along the cliff face. Their grace, & poise is captivating in flight. Bempton is home to England's only mainland gannet colony, with more than 11,000 breeding pairs nesting on the cliffs. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

A 3.30 am start along the chalk cliffs of Bempton, one of the most important seabird colonies in the UK. These towering cliffs provide ideal nesting ledges, crevices and sheltered sites for thousands of breeding seabirds each year. #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #birds #nature @rspb.bsky.social

Lost in the wash.... #ukwildlife #seabirds #puffin #wildlifephotography #nature

A fleeting moment captured along the lake, as the mist lingered during the twilight hour. Grebes are such incredible creatures and I thought this composition just lent itself to monochrome, (with a hint of a cyanotype tint). #ukwildlife #nature #wildlifephotography #birds #nature

The venerable Nikon 200 F2 has a tendency to melt transitions with a razor thin DOF. Not bad for a lens of 2007 vintage which Nikon has yet to beat on its current line up. Brief encounters on the Isle of Skomer. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #photography

Momentary encounters on the magical Isle of Skomer. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #photography

Windswept..... #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #photography

Whispers of the sun reflect off still waters at day break. In this perfect stillness, a Grebe shepherds her chick along the margins. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #photography

Grebes develop an enduring bond during the breeding season. Having closely observed these creatures over the preceding months, the chicks grow quickly, carefully tended under the watchful eye of both parents. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #photography

A very wet and blustery morning, just before sunrise, as courting Grebes dance along the margins. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #photography

I typically work from a low perspective, close to ground or water level. Lowering yourself to your subject’s eye line can often transform the way an image feels, creating a sense of intimacy & connection. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #photography

A wider perspective of this family affair. A female grebe shepherds her chicks during the twilight hour. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

A fleeting moment.... #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

1/30 of a second, in dismal light with a 600mm lens to constrain the ISO. It's hit and miss, but sometimes you get lucky. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

Soft, muted tones frame these courting grebes close to home. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

A misty morning, which lingers along the lake. With the sun yet to rise it almost creates a duo-tone effect I rather like. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

Hitching a ride.... #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

Mum has her hands full... #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

When the back-riding phase ends, both parents divide the brood, with each adult taking responsibility for feeding one or two specific chicks. Weight gain accelerates as they learn to hunt for themselves. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #photography

The chicks are at their most vulnerable phase during the first two weeks, constantly riding on their parents' backs for warmth & protection. By week three they start to swim independently. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

The striking markings of Great Crested Grebe chicks. Incredible how these chicks put on weight so quickly. They're perhaps a couple of weeks old now, & already Mum is struggling to carry them on her back. #ukwildlife #birds #photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #photography

The first rays of the suns linger low over the lake in the mist, framing this Great Crested Grebe & her chick. Metering for the frame, underexposing 2 x stops. Thought it had a nice feel about it. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

Just sitting, and waiting along the margins this morning during the twilight hour. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography #nature #beauty #photography

A moment in time. A great crested grebe takes to flight. #ukwildlife #birds #Suffolk #wildlifephotography

Courting grebes around 5am this morning down by the local lake. I love this time of the day, when the light is so soft & diffused. All is still and all you can hear is a theatre of sound from the local wildlife. #ukwildlife #birds #Photographersofbluesky #Suffolk #wildlifephotography

Contrasting views of the intense colours of the Dunlin's summer plumage, as they busy themselves along the Hebridean shoreline. #wildlifephotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #ukwildlife #wildscotland #coast #nature #scotland #Hebrides #birds #uist

Dunlin feeding on sand worms & crustacea, in amongst the rocks along the shoreline, North Uist. You soon find yourself immersed in their world through the prism of your viewfinder. #wildlifephotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #ukwildlife #wildscotland #coast #nature #scotland #Hebrides #birds

Second in a series of images of the shoreline along North Uist. I/4 second exposure, panning with the camera as the waves rise & fall. #landscape #Scape #coast #seascape #scotland #Hebrides #Uist #PhotographersofBluesky

One of a series of images of the stunning shoreline along North Uist. I/4 second exposure panning with the camera as the waves rise & fall. I just liked the colours, movement & flow. #landscape #Scape #coast #seascape #scotland #Hebrides #Uist #PhotographersofBluesky

Uist lies on the East Atlantic Flyway, attracting 1000's of small waders like Dunlin and Sanderling. They arrive in spring to refuel, some winter there, & a few breed locally, before migrating to their Arctic breeding grounds. #wildlifephotography #ukwildlife #coast #nature #scotland #Hebrides

Windswept Oyster Catcher along the Benbecula shoreline, #Uist, #OuterHebrides. #wildlifephotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #ukwildlife #wildscotland #coast #nature #scotland #Hebrides

One of the few sightings of a Short Eared Owl on North Uist. Unusual, but it's been a very wet winter on the isles, and likely this has hit the vole population, (their natural prey). #wildlifephotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #ukwildlife #wildscotland #owls #nature #scotland #Hebrides

You typically work with the tides when searching for otter, but they can appear anywhere along the shoreline, & at any moment. The twilight hour,when the world is still, is always a good time. #wildlifephotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #ukwildlife #wildscotland #otter #nature #scotland #Hebrides

Encounters on the Benbecula shoreline. The bond of mother & cub remains close for about a year. She raises the cubs alone, teaching them how to survive in freshwater & coastal environments. #wildlifephotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #ukwildlife #wildscotland #otter #nature #scotland #Hebrides

Otters are creatures of the edges, moving for the most part unnoticed between salt and freshwater. A very welcome encounter, with this young cub from a recent tip to #Uist in the #OuterHebrides. #wildlifephotography #PhotographersOfBluesky #ukwildlife #wildscotland #otter #nature #scotland

Traditional fencing management using sustainably harvested, wood such as hazel, willow, chestnut, and oak at Arger Fen. #Scape #landscape #Bures #Suffolk #photography #landscapephotography #woodland

Taking in the scene at sunrise at Arger Fen. Oak, ash, field maple, holly, crab apple, alder and hazel provide the backdrop to a sea of bluebells. Incredible colours and texture hailing the onset of Spring. #Scape #landscape #Bures #Suffolk #photography #landscapephotography #woodland