WILDLIFE photographer and Ilkley Camera Club member, Steve Westerman gave a well received talk on Friday, October 18 to the club.

Steve presented a wealth of impressive images taken along the River Wharfe together with insights into the wide range of wildlife living there. Kingfishers, cormorants, mink and otters featured prominently.

Steve explained that the wildlife along the river exists in a carefully balanced ecosystem which includes the many insects and smaller creatures like crayfish. Steve talked about the possible competition between mink and otters, mink he said tended to feed away from the waters edge, while the otters stayed in and around the water.

On the subject of what makes a good image, Steve said that the shots need to show something about the lives of the creatures including the habitat and behaviour. “There is a bias towards pretty images, but in reality a lot of what we see in nature is not pretty,” Steve said before showing predators feeding on smaller birds.

Steve has spent many years getting to know the local wildlife and some of the issues it faces. There is naturally a lot of concern for sewage discharges into the River Wharfe, but Steve explained that there are wider issues to be aware of. Chemical pollutants are a real problem and often less visible and not as well publicised. Steve said he believed that parasite treatments we put on our pets are finding their way into rivers in concentrations that are toxic to aquatic species.

The river banks are home to many species of birds and animals which requires great care on the part of local residents. Dogs sniffing around on the water's edge and visitors setting up camp can easily disturb wildlife, so it pays to be aware of how we are affecting the local habitats.

Observing wildlife for longer periods of time, as Steve has been doing, can help understand the changes taking place. Steve managed to identify one particular Otter which he was able to document over a number of years as it grew to maturity.

Taking images of wildlife can involve a lot of discomfort with the risk of getting very wet, “but a good result is not actually about the effort you put in but whether it's a good photograph. Timing is everything and getting a good story.”

If you want to take a deeper dive into the local wildlife, Steve is a regular contributor to Nature Notes on the Wharfedale Naturalists website https://www.wharfedale-nats.org.uk/nature-notes Ilkley Camera Club is currently meeting on Friday evenings at 7.30pm. Some meetings are held at St Peter’s Church Hall in Addingham and others on Zoom. For more information visit the Club website at ilkleycameraclub.co.uk or their Facebook page, facebook.com/ilkleycameraclub. Visitors and new members are welcome.