MANY wildlife photographers pride themselves on going far off the beaten track to capture pictures of rare or unusual wild creatures most of us would otherwise never get to see.

But what about the everyday birds and animals that live as our neighbours, and which we all too often take for granted?

As the beautiful photographs on these pages today reveal, the humble garden birds living right on our doorsteps are amazing creatures in their own right, when seen up close and in detail.

All the photographs were taken in the back garden of Press reader Trevor Walton’s home in Copmanthorpe, using an old garage with the window knocked out as a hide.

Trevor, a 63-year-old retired plastics and rubber scientist who worked for many years for Dunlop, has been taking photographs for seven years or so. But you don’t need to be an expert, or have ridiculously expensive equipment, to get pictures like this, he said.

An SLR camera with a telephoto lens, a tripod and some patience are the main requirements.

If you’d like to have a go at taking photographs like these – all taken this winter – here is Trevor’s simple guide: “A hide is a great advantage,” he writes.

“This can be a shed or garage. It should have a window that can be opened or easily removed – photos through glass will lack some clarity.

“Cover the opening with an old curtain or something similar and make a hole in it just large enough to allow the camera lens through. An SLR camera with a telephoto lens, about 300mm, will give the best results. A tripod is a great help.

“Set up a bird feeder six to ten feet away and incorporate a twig to it, where hopefully the birds will land before using the feeder. Because of the closeness of the bird to the lens it is important to use a fairly fast shutter speed, to ensure that the camera is stable.

“Also, secure the feeder so that it does not swing. Please remember to disturb the birds as little as possible.”

And there you have it.

Happy snapping!