Andy working on Adders

Andy lives with his wife Carole and two sons Mark and Michael in Maidstone, Kent, UK. I have been a butcher since I left school, and now work for Morrison's supermarket. Born in Marden, Kent on the 13/09/1958, Andy lived on a mixed farm; this is where he got most of his wildlife experiences, watching wildlife.  After I got married I took up birding as a full time hobby, joining the RSPB and the Kent Ornithology Society.

When our children were of school age Carole and I started a Young Ornithologists Club at the local junior school. We did this for three years, which the boys enjoyed.  They also spent family holidays being bribed to find new species for me.  This lasted until they got older and discovered the joys of football and secondary school.  Andy then went to the Loose Valley YOC as a leader for another three years. I went on to join the Maidstone RSPB group, where I was the outdoor leader and member of the committee for ten years.

Andy also donates some of his pictures to the Kent Trust for Nature at Tyland Barn, Maidstone for their quarterly magazine. In the summer I spend time in a local wood recording and photographing butterflies for a private survey. 

Andy first started digi-scoping in early 2004, using a Nikon Coolpix 990 combined with a Swarovski ATS 80HD telescope with a 20-60 zoom lens. I then moved on to using the Nikon Coolpix 995, which in my mind was not as good as the 990. Early March 2005 I decided to go all the way and go to digital SLR, and bought a Nikon D70. Along with this I purchased the Sigma 50-500mm F4-6.3 APO and  Quantary macro 50mm. In August, not one to be satisfied easily, I decided to buy a secondhand Sigma APO 1:4.5D EX 500mm. Alas something had to go, my faithful Swarovski ATS 80HD and the other Sigma lens. I also use a Manfrotto tripod with a 128 head, plus a pair of Leica 10x42BA for birding.

November 2007 I decide to take the plunge and buy the new Nikon D300. This camera has had some fantastic reviews. With 12 mega pixels there should be some improvements in my photography and the photos in my web-site. Stay posted and enjoy my web site.