Andy Parkinson: Derbyshire's 'secretive' wildlife photographer

This image of a mute swan won Andrew Parkinson this year's Bird Photographer of the Year award

A "very secretive" photographer has been winning national recognition for his wildlife images.

Andrew Parkinson, from Crich in Derbyshire, combines renovating his house with heading out to shoot "unique and credible" bodies of work.

His images have won approval from Chris Packham and he has been named the 2016 Bird Photographer of the Year.

Mr Parkinson said a trip to visit grizzly bears in Alaska first encouraged him to take up photography.

Mr Parkinson says he spent seven weeks following a family of foxes near his home in Derbyshire

"There is a lot of what I'd call homogeneity with wildlife photography now," he said.

"I like to produce unique and credible bodies of work.

He says winter is his favourite time of the year to get his camera out

"I find it absurd that anyone would need to pay someone to find them wildlife to photograph.

"I like to be quite cagy about my locations.

"It is like being a journalist - you want to break the story first."

This badger was caught on camera in the final few minutes of daylight

Mr Parkinson says his dream trip would be to Wapusk National Park in Canada to photograph polar bears emerging from their dens with their young cubs.

His next big project will be in the Peak District and the Scottish Highlands when he attempts to photograph mountain hares.

"I love the physical challenge, the isolation and beauty of photographing these animals up close," he said.

Mr Parkinson says mountain hares are his favourite animal to photograph

This image of two fighting redwings in Derbyshire has also brought the photographer national recognition