4 th February 2004

Derek after the introduction, explained that he would broaden the subject title to include a full tour of Scotland, Wales and Portugal, with a wide range of photographs. 

These were excellent and showed detail in close up of birds rare and common. 

This site cannot do justice to the quality of the pictures and readers are advised to purchase the books shown below, or indeed visit Derek's website.

Derek has been taking wildlife photographs, particularly birds, for many years and has published three full colour books of his work, with a fourth in process ready for publication. 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.

Derek proceeded to show his slides in a rapid succession, but enlivened the lecture with a humorous slant and details of some strange happening in the life of a couple of bird photographers.

Particularity the episode between a French non-English speaker and Derek's lack of the others language, produced a really amusing episode, apart from the Gaelic threats of immediate violence but still resulting in some excellent bird photographs.

It did not go beyond the perception of the membership that each picture shown was the result of patience and fieldmanship, sometimes taking up to five days for one rare shot.

In response to this excellent presentation, Derek Youell responded for the membership in a similar humorous vein and all showed their appreciation in our normal manner.