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Wildlife and Nature Photography by Luis Da Silva

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Wildlife and Nature Photography by Luis Da Silva

Passionate about nature and wildlife, using social media to share what I see through my lens. All ph

13/04/2026

It does not take much for a red squirrel to steal the show. 🐿️ Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) on Brownsea Island.

I absolutely love moments like this. Nothing dramatic, just a red squirrel quietly feeding, but somehow still full of character. The tail, the paws, the expression — they make even the simplest scenes feel special, and that is a big part of why I never get tired of photographing them. I have to go back this year and take my kids to appreciate things beautiful little squirrels.

Fun fact: Red squirrels use their tails for balance, warmth, and communication, which makes them one of their most useful features as well as one of their most striking.

Gear used: Canon R6 & Canon RF 200-800mm

12/04/2026

Completely impossible not to love. 🐿️ Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) on Brownsea Island.

I absolutely love red squirrels, and this is exactly why. The upright pose, the tiny paws, the incredible tail, and that alert little expression — they pack so much character into such a small animal. Moments like this feel less like a simple wildlife sighting and more like a proper little portrait session in the wild.

Fun fact: Red squirrels use their long tails not just for balance, but also for warmth and communication.

11/04/2026

Tiny paws, huge character. Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) on Brownsea Island.

I loved the posture in this moment — completely stretched forward, tail lifted high, and totally focused on the food in front of it. It is one of those small, everyday wildlife moments that can easily be overlooked, but up close it is full of charm and personality.

Fun fact: Red squirrels use their tails for balance, warmth, and communication, which is part of what makes them so expressive to watch.

Gear Used: Canong R6 & Canon RF 200-800mm

10/04/2026

Hidden in plain sight. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) at Elmley Nature Reserve.

I hadn’t even noticed this heron at first. It was tucked away in the reeds so well that it completely escaped me, right up until the moment it lifted off. Those are always the best surprises — when a bird you never even knew was there suddenly turns into a moment you won’t forget.

Fun fact: Grey Herons can stand almost motionless for long periods while hunting, which makes them incredibly easy to miss when they’re tucked into reeds or along the water’s edge.

Gear used: Canon R6 & Sigma 150-600mm

09/04/2026

A tiny moment hidden in the grass. Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).

I’m not 100% certain on this one, but it looks to me like a Common Blue. Easy to miss, but these small encounters always feel worth noticing, especially when the light catches them so nicely among the grass and wild plants. I caught this last year in August and can’t wait to see all these species again and try a bit of macro photography if they even allow me to get close.

Fun fact: Common Blues are one of the UK’s most widespread blue butterflies, and the undersides of their wings are covered in delicate spots and orange markings that help with identification.

Gear used: Canon R6 & Sigma 150-600mm

08/04/2026

A game of hide and seek that was worth the wait. Dartford Warbler (Curruca undata).

I really enjoyed spending time with this little warbler. I was probably in the same spot for over an hour, watching it disappear into the cover, then pop back out just enough for a quick glimpse of that bright eye. It felt like a constant game of peekaboo, with the bird always one step ahead.

Then, finally, it gave me a proper moment and flew out onto an open branch. After all that patience, it made the encounter feel even more rewarding.

Fun fact: Dartford Warblers are closely tied to heathland and gorse, where they spend much of their time moving low through cover in search of insects.

07/04/2026

Rear view, but still full of character. Dartford Warbler (Curruca undata).

Not quite the classic portrait, but I still love this moment. With its back end pointed towards me and something in its bill, this Dartford Warbler seemed far more interested in getting on with its day than posing for the camera. And honestly, that is part of the charm.

It is a slightly funny frame, but also one that feels true to wildlife — brief, imperfect, and full of personality.

Fun fact: Dartford Warblers rarely stray far from dense gorse, which gives them both cover and a reliable place to forage for insects.

Gear Used: Canon R6 & Sigma 150-600mm

06/04/2026

A hunter’s focus. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) at Elmley Nature Reserve.

I liked these frames because they capture a moment of purpose rather than perfection. The buzzard was flying low over the marsh, clearly locked onto the ground below, before dropping down into the grass. It all happened quickly, but it felt like one of those moments where you get to witness a little more than just the bird itself.

Fun fact: Common Buzzards are opportunistic hunters and feeders, taking small mammals, birds, carrion, and whatever else the landscape offers.

Gear Used: Canon R6 & Sigma 150-600mm

05/04/2026

Caught in the last of the light, just as I was leaving the reserve after 36,000 steps.

Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) at Elmley Nature Reserve.

This hare paused for just a moment, lit beautifully against the grass, before no doubt carrying on as if I was never there. Hares always seem to carry that mix of calm and tension — still on the surface, but ready to move in an instant.

Moments like this are exactly why I love photographing wildlife in its environment, not just for the subject itself, but for the wider scene and the emotion a single frame can hold.

Fun fact: Brown Hares can reach speeds of up to around 40 mph and use their powerful hind legs to make sudden twists and turns when escaping danger.

04/04/2026

A moment in its element. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) at Elmley Nature Reserve.

What I liked here was not just the subject, but the setting around it. This image captures the Common Snipe exactly where it belongs, quietly wading at the water’s edge, surrounded by the kind of habitat it depends on. It is a reminder that sometimes the wider scene tells just as much of the story as a close-up ever could.

That is one of the things I enjoy most about wildlife photography — not only capturing the subject itself but also preserving a sense of place and the environment that makes moments like this possible.

Fun fact: Common Snipes rely on wetland habitats where they probe soft ground with their long, sensitive bills in search of insects, worms, and other small prey.

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London

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Saturday	6am - 5pm
Sunday	6am - 5pm

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http://www.luisdasilvaphotography.com/

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