Philipp Gerasimov

Dublin is a great place for wildlife photographers with many beautiful locations within or nearby the city and with a short distance to beautiful Ireland coasts, national parks, forests, mountains and rivers. But there is one "hidden gem", beloved by many Dublin photographers and Dubliners, right within the city, in Rathfarnham district of Dublin in south of the city.

It's located on the River Dodder banks which is one of the few rivers in Dublin and have two photo-shooting locations, particularly beloved by wildlife photographers, the Bushy Park and Dodder Rd Lower street. What is so interesting about these places?

The Dodder Rd Lower could be one of the best places in Ireland where people can find and make photos of Common Kingfishers, right in the city! The Common Kingfishers are the small birds which are known and beloved for their beautiful bright Emerald-Orange plumage and the extraordinary fishing skills, involving diving into the shallow water and coming back with a small fish on a perch to eat it. Kingfishers are not a flock birds and a single pair of birds can "control" few kilometers of river, flying very fast from location to location on top of the water like small emerald balls, eventually perching on their favorite perches and fishing. Kingfishers also are very shy birds what makes it hard to make their photos which is many cases if only possible from a hidden location. And it's really rare when these birds can be seen right in the big city!

So, every day the Dodder Rd Lover becomes a place where many photographers come to enjoy the process of looking for these beautiful birds and trying to make beautiful photos of them. Usually it's quire time consuming process, involving patience, skills, luck and respect to the wildlife and bird's behavior and living.

But it's not just about Kingfishers. The river's biosphere includes many other birds and animals which are also great subjects for wildlife photography!

Cormorants are another skilled divers which find their food int the river waters.

Grey Herons and Little Egrets are usual habitants of most Ireland rivers, lakes and coasts

White-throated dippers love small waterfalls and stones in the shallow waters of the Dodder to find their food.

Grey wagtails are also common birds around most Ireland's water reservoirs

Many songbirds lives on the river banks on the trees and bushes as well. But what about other animals? One of the Dodder Rd Lower, a beautiful family of foxes, which lives in the small forest area on the river bank and welcome the tasty treats from photographers and other Dubliners who walks along the river

Squirrels are another Dodder bank habitants. Searching for tasty nuts on the big trees, jumping from branch to branch or even swimming! Have you seen a swimming squittel?

Otters are the great fishermen and sometimes can be seen coming the Dodder Rd Lower to fish at the waterfall! As well as the minks which are not native Irish animals still finds their way to be part of the river biodiversity.

Now moving to the Bushy Park which is collated next to Dodder Rd Lower across Rathfarnham Road. It's small park with multiple ponds and forest areas which also gives a home to birds and animals. The Duck Pond is of the favorite photo-shooting location with many water birds.

Little Grebes, Mallard and Tufted Ducks, Moorhens, Herring and Black Headed Gulls are among the birds living in the pond.

All of these birds and animals can be seen and photographed in these two near-by locations. And of course it's not just about photo-shooting, but also lifestyle, enjoying nature and wildlife, recuperating from work and life challenges and and a place to find new friends who share the passion and love for wildlife and photography!

Many photographers and enthusiasts who regularly come to this Dublin's wildlife photography "hidden gem" post their recent photos and share news on the "Dodder Photography' Facebook's group.