3 Day Group Workshop 2023

With Paul Miguel & Espen Helland

7 - 9 March, 2023

Scotland (Various locations)

Introductory Offer £550 (£100 deposit to save a spot)

We’re offering this 3 day workshop at a discount as it’s the first of it’s kind that we are putting on. We’ll be focusing on red squirrels, woodland birds, red kites in flight, waterbirds and post processing tips, and helping participants get the most from their experience. The workshop is limited to 6 participants.

Pay a non-refundable deposit of £100 now to save your spot and pay the remaining cost 30 days before the workshop.

3 day workshop Schedule

Day 1: Tuesday, 7th March

• Group 1 at Forest Hide and waterbirds on loch (if conditions on the loch aren’t favourable, we’ll focus on alternative subjects)

• Group 2 to Argaty Red Kite Centre for Forest Hide and Red Kite Photo Hide

Day 2: Wednesday, 8th March

• Group 2 to Forest Hide and waterbirds on loch (if conditions on the loch aren’t favourable we’ll focus on alternative subjects)

• Group 1 to Argaty Red Kite Centre for Forest Hide and Red Kite Photo Hide

Day 3: Thursday, 9th March

• All gather at local community hall to edit images, tips and Q&A

• If time permits, we can enjoy a final short photo walk in the local woodlands.

About your workshop leaders

About the locations

Red Kites and Red Squirrels at Argaty

A purpose-built hide for up to 3 photographers, the Red Kite Photography Hide brings you closer to the action (distance to the feeding area 35m) for an unforgettable encounter with nature! This hide offers big viewing hatches, room for tripods or monopods and a photography shelf for those who prefer to shoot hand-held.

The hide looks out onto a beautiful deciduous woodland copse, which provides the perfect backdrop to photograph kites against, even in overcast weather. Additional floor level hatches offer the opportunity for eye-to-eye photography – be sure to bring along a short focal length lens as well as something longer as the wildlife can come very close indeed!

The forest hide is set in secluded woodland which gives close-up views of the charismatic red squirrels, as well as a spectacular array of woodland birds including greater spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, long tailed tits and more.

If you want to get a feel for the red kite hide experience, check out Espen’s video when he visited Argaty from 2019.

Waterbirds at the loch

The loch has a few species that are present all year round, but it also gets visitors during migration and the winter months. Some of the highlights are goldeneye, great crested grebe, and goosander. Various geese often stop by such as greylag, Canada geese, and occasionally barnacle geese. Mallards, tufted duck, moorhen, oystercatcher and coot are usually present in March.

The loch has beavers and evidence of their presence is all around, but March is likely to be a bit early in the year to see them during daylight hours.

If the weather conditions are on our side and there are plenty of waterbirds present on the loch, we’ll start before dawn using ground hides for a low angle view. Ideally we’ll be looking for as near a wind still morning as we can get so that we can get reflections on the water. If we’re lucky we’ll get some frost and mist to go with it.

Perthshire Forest Hide

The forest hide is in Espen’s local woodland near Dunkeld in Perthshire Scotland. The hides used are a combination of the Monal, V6 and Grouse V+ Tragopan hides.

The forest hide is located in an old birch and oak forest and I’ve tried to keep a very natural setting best suited for photography. Alongside the red squirrels, many other species tends to visit the forest hide.

Coal tit, blue tit and great tit are regular visitors to the hide. Occasionally I get a visit by the jay (my record is 6 jays at once). The great spotted woodpecker sometimes makes an appearance, not just on the feeders, but also feeding naturally on the old dead tree trunks that are near the hide. Chaffinch, nuthatch, wren and pheasant are also regular visitors that like to help themselves to free food.

Lookout for treecreepers that will feed naturally on the trunks all over the woodland.

Roe deer and fallow deer use the forest regularly, and if we’re lucky we may get some close encounters. Brown hare use the forest to rest in during the day and I often flush one from its hiding spot when making my way to the hide.

Testimonials

"I had the pleasure of attending the Black Grouse Lek workshop (April 22) with Espen. The organisation, communication and the planning of the workshop was brilliant prior to attending. It was relaxed, easy going and very informative pre workshop when we were walking to the site. The use of the hides and location was fantastic. We had a clear morning and the light was fantastic. With over 3hrs of the lek I was more than happy with my results. I cannot recommend enough"

@_benedict_hope_

Thank you very much for the Black Grouse Lek experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience of walking in in the dark and then hearing the Grouse arriving and calling just as the sun was rising. The Grouse put on a good show and I thoroughly enjoyed watching and photographing their antics from the hide. I look forward to booking next year.

Best Wishes

K Daly.

Why go on a 3 day workshop?

In a one day workshop, it can be challenging to apply all the skills and knowledge gained in the time available – and sometimes the wildlife or weather doesn’t cooperate either!

Having workshops spaced out over a few days increases our chances of having good light and gives us so much more time with our subjects. This gives workshop participants some breathing space to absorb information and be able to practice photography with a less intense schedule.

I often receive feedback that it would have been great to come back for another day because it’s difficult to get everything right when you’re experiencing something for the first time.

We’re excited to put on this 3 day workshop, which will give us:

• a full day at the thrilling Argaty Red Kite Centre to photograph these majestic raptors up close and in action;

• plenty of time with the iconic red squirrels and woodland birds in different sceneries, habitats and landscapes;

• lots of time to spend in beautiful Highland Perthshire and the surrounding area;

• plenty of opportunities to ask questions, reflect on skills learned, and implement new techniques;

• a chance to meet new photography friends!

Dates for the workshop are Tuesday, 7th March to Thursday, 9th March 2023. For workshops on the first two days, we’ll divide into two groups to provide a smaller, more bespoke wildlife photography experience with more time for personalised tuition and guidance. On the final day, we’ll come together as a group to share learnings, review images, and do some post-processing, as well as provide ample time for a Q&A.

What You’ll Need

• Camera

• Telephoto lens, ideally around 400-600mm focal length lens

• Tripod (If you don’t have a tripod, let me know and I can provide one for you)

• Beanbag or camera support (for hide by loch)

• Mat to lie own in hide at the loch (I have extra if needed)

• Fully charged batteries (+ spares)

• Laptop (to upload and edit images on)

• Spare memory card 

• Hiking boots and/or thermal wellies 

• Warm clothing, extra layers and spare socks (March can get cold, especially when lying or sitting still for hours on end)

• Water, hot drinks and any snacks to keep you going

• Anything else you need for comfort within the hide 

Tragopan Hides

Tragopan hides will be provided. The Hokki and the V6 with additional room will be used for the sessions when we will be lying down, so a ground mat will be useful to bring to be comfortable inside it (I sometimes bring a sleeping bag to stay warm in the hide).

At the forest hide we’ll use a combination of Monal, Grouse V+ and V6 and will be sitting on chairs during the session.

Price

£550 per person

Included

• Tuition by Paul and Espen

• Transport from Dunkeld to site and return

• Evening meal and 1 drink (evening before 1st day of workshop)

• Hides used while on site

Not Included

• Accommodation (We recommend you book accommodation locally in Dunkeld as we can pick you up and drop you off. Alternatively, if you’re local or prefer to stay somewhere else, you can meet us at the agreed meeting location each morning.)

• Lunches, snacks, drinks (We’ll bring some snack and hot drinks, but ideally bring your own if you have special preferences or diet requirements)

• Evening meals (except first evening meal on Monday, 6th March)

• Insurance

• Cameras and photography gear

Level of Experience 

Beginners are welcome, although the workshops are geared towards those with some experience of wildlife photography. I recommend that you have some familiarity with your camera but we will be at hand for questions and guidance on settings and techniques, and we will have some time on the final day for editing and review time, plus a Q&A.

FAQs

What if the species don’t show up?

We have selected locations and subjects that are very reliable, however you can never guarantee nature. If for any reason the species don’t show up, we will use the time for photography opportunities in the local area. 

What if the conditions aren’t right?

As with all outdoor and wildlife photography, sometimes the light or the weather conditions just don’t go as you want them to. We will talk about how to make the most of the light whatever the conditions, and how to look for composition opportunities and ideas to work with what you have.

How do I book?

To book your place, just select the date you wish. You will receive a booking confirmation and I will send further information closer to the date of the workshop. Or for more information please email Espen at info@espenhelland.com

For more information please email Espen at info@espenhelland.com or Paul at paul@naturephotographycourses.co.uk

Terms and Conditions