Scottish Photography Hides 18-20th, November 2022
After a long career in amateur sport requiring some parts replacing I'm finally back out after 13 weeks of inactivity and to celebrate the occasion I've arranged a three day trip up to Galloway at the Scottish Photography Hides, three days and three night hides sessions and likely to be full on for the entire weekend.
Day one consists a combined day and nigh session concentrating on Kingfishers in a hide aptly named the "Kingfisher Hide" and later in the evening Otter. Located right next to the river Tarff...no not Taff that's in Cardiff ! it's ideal placed for both target species.
Photographing Kingfishers in this location in my opinion cannot be bettered due to the uncluttered background way off in the distance with some great colours provided by the green field and autumn gold bracken, all that's required now is...Kingfishers.
Appearing every hour sometimes staying for a minute other times five minutes gives you ample opportunity to change the shot, some shot arrangements you've seen before others you may not. After many visits all too soon it's 3.0pm the light fading under the grey clouds signalling time to change the gear over ready for the Otter night shoot.
Kingfisher
Otter
On may last visit a Otter family comprising a female and two cubs were visiting, now my understanding is the female was killed on the nearby road and the cubs chased from the territory by the now large single male....gear ready....I'm ready.
The male regularly visits around 5.0pm and true to form at 4.50pm it turns up. I spot the Otter as it climbing the ramp on to the pool, sticks it's head into the water then shaking it's head in a halo of water droplets.
After about ten minuets of action...is all over, but there's always tomorrow.
Sparrowhawk
Day two, I'm at the "Sparrowhawk" Hide probably Alan's most well known hide that's featured on BBC's SpringWatch, today I have all four hides all to my self, take your pick !
On previous visits I've found the species can vary dependant on the time of year, daytime Tawny Owl, Red Kite and Buzzard have all been visitors but with nothing of note reported the highlight will undoubtedly be the Sparrowhawk pretty much a guarantee. I've waited maybe an hour and a male Sparrowhawk turns up around midday, it stays for maybe 15minuets which gives me plenty of time for a couple of hundred shots...more editing !
Now around 3.0pm with the light fading I call time and make my way up the the Pine Martin located in the blackest of black....Caledonian Forest...ooow !
Pine Martin
Pine Martin a species where you have to be quick to get the shot, I've missed many in this hide but I'm getting better. Alan's change the set since my last visit at the beginning of the year and as before the LED lights have gone in favour of a superior flash system. Now the wait which be be long, very long !
Out of the backness the mustelid appears, jumps straight up onto the log to retrieve it's prize, this process goes on three times given you a more chance to get a better shot, then along the stone wall investigating for anything edible, then it all over like all these hide sets, fast, furious and quick.
Badger
Day three, I'm back in the Kingfisher Hide again taking the opportunity to change the set after each Kingfisher visit, more of the same as you would expect always trying for that next best shot.
Late afternoon it's now time for the night session with Badgers, on my last visit I managed just one shot before the Badger got spooked disappearing never to return, here's hopping for better successes.
It's a long wait before I get any action, the Tawny Owl makes a quick fly in visit, and was quick, less than a second, in and out in less than a second !
More wait, then I detect low frequency noise and a Badger appears, not three as seen in other images. Nose down never giving a great shot permanently sniffing and feeding the free offerings, then gone. As it's now 2 degrees and I'm happy to call time and head back to the car to thaw out.
Until the next time.
