We are very lucky to have a new, young talent recording the birds and wildlife of the village. Since he was very young James Clark loved nature, especially birds. Like most children living in the country he loved climbing trees, walking in the woods, or just lying on the grass, relaxing in the sun listening to the birds. 

The transition into life as a teenager wasn’t easy for him, he struggled and found it hard to cope with the pressure of the everyday life, getting lost in the demands of school work and relationships. Despite living with his grandparents in North Norfolk surrounded by stunning countryside, it got so bad, that at some point he became unable to leave the house to go to school and began to have negative thoughts about everything around him.

Around this time his mother borrowed a Sony DSLR camera from his uncle, and he became intrigued. So much so that one evening he asked if he could give it a try. He went for a walk at sunset and took his first few photographs. James now says that to was “the night that changed my life”. His worries floated away on the water of the pond in his grandparents’ garden as he listened to the birds, and watched the glow of the sunset. 

Linnet on the common

His first few photos were encouraging, and after learning about how the settings on the camera worked he began to really have fun, pointing and shooting. Birds, trees, leaves in the sunlight, it reignited his love of nature and he found a new path. Over the next 2 years James honed his skills and, still only 14 years old he now takes hundreds of stunning images of birds and animals spending hours and hours in the field. He started posting his photos online, and watching hundreds of youtube videos and David Attenborough documentaries. He particularly came to love photographing Owls, Little owls, Barn Owls, Tawny Owls "Being in the presence of an Owl is one of the most magical experiences you can have. Watching their beautiful eyes down the lens creates a feeling I cannot explain."

Little Owl

James is one of the lucky ones who has found a passion when life seemed too much, and it gave him something to focus on. He says “Nature saved me and helped me find my way in life.”

We have added some of James's wonderful images in and around Walberswick for you to enjoy to the Walberswick Wildlife gallery (they are all his own work and he has copyright). If you would like to share any wildlife photographs that you have taken on this threatened bit of our coastline do send us your images: