Richard Brooks has lived full-time in North Norfolk since 1995, after initially buying a weekend retreat at Croxton Hamlet near Fakenham (where he still lives) in 1978. In the early nineties he was also able to acquire the adjoining cottage and turn them both into one (thanks largely to the generosity of his dear mother who lived there with him and sadly passed away in May 2017 a few months short of her 102nd birthday – having continued driving almost up to the age of 100!). The move would not have been possible without her support, as he gave up his landscape gardening business in Essex to concentrate on his two main loves - wildlife photography and conservation (both of which require a lot of patience and dedication; whilst yielding little by way of financial reward!).
In 1998 he published (at his own expense) a birding guide to the Greek Island of Lesvos, which he visited 24 times in all since 1991 and came to regard almost as his second home. He also started promoting birding trips there ahead of the main tourist season (when migration was at its best) directly benefiting the island’s economy. This achievement was recognised by the local hoteliers’ association there, who presented him with an award for services to green tourism in 2002. At the same time he produced a revised copy of ‘Birding on the Greek Island of Lesvos’ and also offered regular guided birding and photography days during his extended spring stays (when he also gave regular talks and slideshows at several venues on the island – even being approached by local schools to share his enthusiasm for its rich and varied wildlife). This didn’t escape the notice of other areas of Greece (who hoped to emulate the success of Lesvos in promoting green tourism and extending the tourist season), and before long he was being offered free exploratory trips to Lake Kerkini in N Greece (in 2000), The Evros Delta (also in N Greece) between 2002 – 2004, neighbouring Turkey in 2005 and 2006 and finally the neighbouring island of Lemnos in 2010 and 2011). At the same time he continued to promote Lesvos by manning a stand and giving regular talks at The British Birdwatching Fair at Rutland every August from the mid-nineties until 2004 (by which time the associated costs had become prohibitive and the internet had largely taken over from personal contact). His ambition of putting Lesvos on the birding map had been realized, and when his book (after selling nearly 9,000 copies over the years) finally went out of print he decided that it was no longer viable to revise it (especially as a rival had been compiling his own version over the years in readiness for just such a scenario!).
This, combined with the sudden downturn in the Greek economy (which effectively removed any funding schemes overnight) and also the growing problem of increasing numbers of migrants (human rather than birds!) arriving in Lesvos via Turkey led to him concentrating his photography and conservation projects much more in his adopted county of Norfolk (though continuing with photographic trips most years to other countries such as Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Oman and Hungary, as well as destinations closer to home like Scotland and The Western Isles). Ever since first visiting Norfolk in the late seventies, he was impressed with the opportunities for viewing daytime hunting Barn Owls (a very rare sight in Essex), and he has continued to study and photograph this species to the present day. Hand in hand with this has been a concern for the loss of breeding sites as hollow trees become an increasingly rare commodity and traditional old barns become redundant and are either left to fall down or more likely face conversion. To try and counteract this loss, over the last twenty-five years or so he has been utilising recycled tea chests and placing them in suitable buildings throughout North Norfolk in an effort to stabilise the population. This, together with the provision of exterior A-Frame boxes, has created over 750 potential nest sites – which in a good year can be tenanted by 100+ pairs of Barn Owls, as well as several pairs of Tawny and occasional Little Owl and Kestrel (in addition to numerous pairs of Stock Dove!). They also provide a number of secure roost sites throughout the year (particularly important for dispersing young) and are all monitored and maintained annually (the most unpleasant task being to clear out unwanted Jackdaws’ nests!) largely at his own expense, and this task now occupies him for several months of the year.
At the same time he has helped create a mini nature reserve on a small parcel of land alongside his house, complete with a wildflower area, a number of native trees, a variety of nest-boxes and assorted feeders. Though as yet nothing ultra-rare has turned up, it has in its time hosted one of the largest breeding colonies in Norfolk of the rapidly declining Tree Sparrow (which sadly quit the area in 2007), a pair or two of Turtle Doves up to 2011 and Spotted Flycatcher on several occasions up to 2005. Nowadays it mainly benefits a small colony of the declining House Sparrow, five species of both tits and finches (including good numbers most years of wintering Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll), Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. Goldcrest, Willow Warbler and Blackcap now also breed, and the provision of windfalls from late autumn onwards normally attracts good numbers of wintering thrushes (Blackbirds and Fieldfares especially). It also provides him with a number of photo opportunities, both from his upstairs windows and his garden shed (which overlooks a drinking pool and several perches and doubles nicely as a hide!).
Since 2008, however, pride of place must go to the pair of Barn Owls which have taken up residence in a boarded off section of his loft space (complete with an exterior owl hole and two purpose made boxes) which he commissioned in 1993. It was worth the fifteen year wait, as they nested there every year until the male (ringed locally as a nestling in 2007) sadly passed away in winter 2020 at the ripe old age of 13! In that time they survived competition from Jackdaws and went on to raise two broods annually during much of that period (quite a rare feat for Barn Owls) and in 2017 fledged a record eight young from their second brood! Since being able to observe all the intimate details of their breeding cycle the installation of CCTV has enabled him to closely monitor any food shortages they encounter, and as a result elected some years back to undertake supplementary feeding with day-old chicks (readily available in frozen form locally) placed outside on nearby posts nightly. Though they continue to hunt naturally this ensures a steady food supply (even in times of bad weather and food shortages) and also helps with post fledging survival, as a number of the previous young return in the winter months to avail themselves of this food source (even sometimes going on to feed these chicks to their own young!). This has been proven when monitoring local boxes, and observations in the arctic weather prevailing during February and March 2018 recorded anything up to nine or ten birds visiting nightly! This is probably the main reason for double brooding and has also provided the bonus of visiting Tawnies which have now been appearing nightly for over six years now and often wait patiently in a nearby tree before plunging down to take a chick from their regular feeding post (sometimes even snatching it from his hand in the process!) to which the male may return every few minutes during the breeding season. Both they and the Barn Owls seem totally unfazed by the provision of one or more powerful studio lamps which illuminate the scene and make autofocusing relatively easy considering the participants will be positioned only a few feet away! Clearly this makes for unparalleled opportunities in photographing two normally fairly secretive owl species without causing them any obvious stress, and has encouraged him to offer responsible photographers the chance to book a two hour session to help offset his lighting and all-year-round feeding costs. Ideally, this works best limiting numbers to two or three photographers, as the welfare of the birds always comes first. However, exceptions can sometimes be made for a small group (especially if not all are photographers or photographing at once).
He also offers daily guided birding and photography courses in North Norfolk (with owls a speciality at appropriate times of the year and accommodation on site often available by arrangement). Do please remember that by purchasing any of his cards or the Norfolk bird calendars he produces annually you are helping contribute to his conservation work. Moreover, if you think you might be able to provide a home for Barn Owls in North Norfolk, he’d be happy to come along to advise, and install a box or two (for a modest fee!) if he considered the site suitable. Finally, any unwanted tea chests are always gratefully received! Much of this information is available on his website (including details of a number of varied talks he offers) – so do feel free to get in touch or phone for a chat!