Who I Am

Derek has been taking wildlife photographs, particularly birds, for many years and has published four full colour books of his work. These books concentrate on bird life in the area around Shepperton in Middlesex and Surrey, where Derek lives and works.

But also includes photos taken during trips to other parts of the UK, Wales and even up to the Scottish Islands, plus areas of France and the USA.

Derek is a well known lecturer and was prepared to present his slides with a talk/lecture to clubs or society's within reasonable travel distance of his home.

"After getting some bad news about my health I decided to write another book or two about my exploits in bird watching and photography."

"Another reason for producing these books is that I want to leave some of my favourite photographs for people to share. People who made up the audiences I've given illustrated talks to over the years, friends in the bird world and acquaintances I've met."

But unfortunately Derek is no longer able to travel and finds speech very difficult so cannot continue to lecture, but his books, the last two he has struggled to produce, he hopes you will purchase and enjoy, number five is supporting a worthy cause.

Introduction

Derek Belsey was born in West London in 1939 and getting interested in nature was never a problem.

There were fewer cars, less major roads, ample parks, and lots of little corners of wasteland where nature could thrive.

But London started to spread its wings into neighbouring counties and with it brought more cars, major roads, motorways, and housing developments.

All the little corners have now gone mostly to property developers.

Wildlife struggles on the best it can but in most cases it seems to be fighting a losing battle.

I moved to the borders of Surrey in 1969 to the small village of Shepperton, where between work I have explored new areas of wildlife and habitats.

As a young lad I had the usual collection of birds eggs and while collecting them I got I hooked on bird watching.

I have read old books on London when otters were frequently seen as near to London as Kew Bridge on the river Thames.

This I have never seen, but Red Backed Shrikes on Hounslow Heath, I have, along with many other species that have been forced out or disappeared all together.

After moving to Shepperton, I became even more interested in bird watching and began to study it in more detail.

It was while walking around the Queen Mary Reservoir that I met Ron Wells, a local bird photographer who introduced me to bird photography.

I purchased by first camera, a second-hand Zenith, and a cheap 125mm lens.

But when the shutter clicked it went of like a gun, hence I started to compile a collection of blurred bird photographs.

This was all part of learning bird photography Ron told me.

I continued to pursue my new hobby quite happily and even started to give a few talks and slide shows of my efforts to local clubs and guilds.

So I started to move further afield to pursue mine. That's how I met Cliff Reddick who became a close friend and this book was eventually put together about bird life with factual stories. Hence the title Seeing is Believing.

Cliff has helped me tremendously with the photographic side of my bird watching and together we have enjoyed many ventures. Another friend of mine, Bill Lowe also shared some of these early days, which will be explained in my book.

When Cliff or myself are photographing, the welfare of the birds is more important than the photographs. A licence is needed to photograph some specific birds, but certain precautions are always taken, such as never putting up a hide where it may attract other people's attention. So most of the photography is carried out on private land with the owner's permission.

To sit in a hide is most rewarding as you soon discover that like most humans, birds are individuals. Some birds are very wary so the utmost care is taken to ensure their safety and sometimes it's best to leave the birds alone.

Some birds seem to be oblivious to a hide or camera and it's these that have produced some of the most enjoyable memories.

Cliff lives in the small Surrey village of Ockley located between Guildford and Dorking, so between us we try to cover as many areas as we can. Usually we both finish up in our favourite spots to study fewer birds but in more detail.

As I have already mentioned, some areas have now gone, so we try and capture our photographs where we can, and I try to record all the stories. I am not so much a photographer but someone who bird watches through the lens of a camera.

These books contains just some of the many photographs, stories, poems, and experiences compiled while pursuing my favourite hobby.