https://www.facebook.com/444210935449166/

Thomas Mellor Photography

Home
United Kingdom
Leeds
Thomas Mellor Photography

Photographer: 🦅 Birds | 🐾 Wildlife | 🌌 Astro
Gear: 📷 🔍
Yorkshireman who Migrated South and got into Birding!

27/12/2025

M42 - The Orion Nebula
26/12/2025

When I moved to Essex, one of the first things I did was join North Essex Astronomical Society. They were really lovely and helpful but birding soon consumed all hobby space and time in my brain. Birding also gave me more warmth and exercise.

After a demonstration at one of their events, however, I was very interested to grab a telescope and I finally got one over Xmas.

Whilst birding will probably always be the main focus of this account, things are occasionally going to start getting a little bit more Astro around here.

This is my first attempt at capturing Orion on the first clear night we’ve had for ages. Lots to learn but really happy with this for starters!

26/12/2025

Glossy Ibis
26/12/2025
RSPB St Aidan’s, Leeds

Made it over to St Aidan’s in time for Golden Hour and finally managed to see the pair of Glossy Ibis that have been hanging out there recently. Their iridescent colours look stunning if you catch them in the right light.

25/12/2025

I was very chuffed to see plenty of visits by two Great Spotted Woodpeckers at Leeds Wildlife Photography Hides in Methley.

The light was a bit poor for flight shots but these are by far the best perched shots I’ve ever had chance to get of this beautiful bird.

24/12/2025

Merry Xmas from me and this Juvenile Male Sparrowhawk who popped up at the excellent Leeds Wildlife Photography Hide in Methley as recommended by .baker.169

22/12/2025

Tawny Owl
08/11/2025
Essex

Found this Tawny roosting on a very autumnal day in November.

13/12/2025

13/12/2025
St Aidan’s Nature Park, Leeds

Various highlights from an extended visit to RSPB St Aidans. Arrived for sunrise and got a lovely but quiet golden hour. Saw a Kingy at a couple of locations and even managed to spot a Red-Crested Pochard, which is a lifer for me!

30/11/2025

Rose-Ringed Parakeet
Bushy Park
01/11/2025

I’ve seen a few of these at Roundhay Park in Leeds but don’t have any near where I live so it was good to finally get some shots when I visited Bushy Park.

They are very noisy and whilst their call was new to me at the start of the day, they definitely felt like part of the furniture in Britain’s nature by the time I left. Also, they are quite sweet really.

27/11/2025

Red Deer

01/11/2025

At the start of the month, I finally made it across to Bushy Park to catch the latter stages of the Annual Deer Rut.

It was a glorious day and I was very impressed with the place. It is total Five Star accommodation for the nature there and there is plenty of it.

It was a great experience to see the stags roaring. I didn’t see any fights but it certainly felt like 15:30 after school in the woods where all the deer were gathering round ready to watch one!

03/10/2025

Red Kite & Common Buzzard
Argaty, Doune
12/09/2025

After seeing the Red Squirrels and Pine Marten, we headed up the hill for the Red Kite feeding session.

We were given an informative talk by Tom Bowser about the successful reintroduction of Red Kites in the area and then watched as they swooped in for their lunch.

After a few minutes, we noticed a young Buzzard had plonked itself down right in the landing zone. Amazingly, it hung in there as the Red Kites repeatedly dive bombed it.

The Buzzard, who I shall name Pelé due to its effective use of the overhead kick, gave as good as it got and managed to pick up a free meal for its efforts.

Another incredible moment on a special visit. Do check out if you are in the area and make a plan to visit if you are not!

02/10/2025

European Pine Marten
Argaty, Doune
12/09/2025

Me and arrived to an hour before the Red Kites feeding began. Tom Bowser gave us a lift to the Woodland Hide so that we could see some red squirrels for an hour.

After a couple of minutes, we had some photos of red squirrels but then another creature approached that was larger and with a much different gait.

We were absolutely thrilled when it popped out behind the tree and we realised that it was a Pine Marten! had seen one late at night on Mull by the side of the road but this was my first sighting and we were so lucky to see it during day time.

We got to spend a good half an hour in its company, trying to make the most of the difficult light conditions as it raided the squirrel feeding box, even plucking out an egg before disappearing into the woods!

The squirrels were nowhere to be seen while it was around and after recently seeing a video of one being endlessly chased around a tree by a Pine Marten I can understand why!

This was the highlight of our holiday and we even got to witness another remarkable wildlife encounter during the red kite feeding, which I will reveal in Part 3!

01/10/2025

Red Squirrel
Argaty, Doune
12/09/2025

We popped into on the way back from Mull and at £40 for the pair of us to see the Red Kites being fed and use of the Woodland Hide, it was the best money we spent on the entire trip.

We also picked up a couple of Tom Bowser’s books on red kites and beavers (which we can’t wait to come back and see next year!)

This will be a three parter. Part 1 is of a lovely red squirrel that we saw from the Woodland Hide, before another surprise visitor took all of our attention!

Address

Leeds
LS26 8

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Thomas Mellor Photography posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Photography Service in Leeds?