Hi John
I went a few years ago for xmas and checked the site out,I think it would be a good site as long as you can get next to the lake,I dont think there are restrictions but maybe worth giving the hut there a ring-sorry dont have number,and obviuosly check to make sure the ospreys are there at the time,I think they leave around august time and should arrive in the next month or so
Posted by Brian Irving on March 23, 2006 at 7:46 AM
Contact the warden, Richard Thaxton, you can get the details from the RSPB website, I have volunteered there about five times. The birds return around this week at the earliest.
Photography of the nest is pretty simple from the public hide however you will need a good reach, 500 + TC minimum. Other delights are Crested Tits, Crossbills, Caper and breeding Goldeneye on Loch Morlich.
There are plenty of Roe deer around at this time of year also. Oh, and pine martens at the car park litter bins early morning.
Hope this helps
Brian
Posted by Paul Marshall on March 23, 2006 at 9:22 AM
Dear John
The nest is some distance from the loch shore and is situated in the pine woods. Photographing birds on the nest is relatively easy (with a long lens) but you are photographing from the ground looking up so the angle isn't brilliant.
Getting next to the loch is not a problem but it's a large loch and I think I am right in saying the birds tend not to hunt the actual loch. It's quite common for birds of prey not to hunt near their nests so they don't draw attention to them.
For one of the best Osprey photo opportunities in Scotland try the fish farm just south of Aviemore (east of the main road). For a small fee you can use the hide and get superb views of fishing birds. They are present from April to August with mid summer being best when the adults have young to feed so need to fish more regularly.
Hope that helps
Paul
Posted by Tim Munsey on March 23, 2006 at 11:41 AM
Yippeeeeeeeee!!!!! The Ospreys are coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey chaps, thanks very much for the information given. It seems this is definately worth the investment of a few days of time.
Vince, I'm planning on mid to late July but wouldn't want to turn this into a group trip really. I've always achieved better results with wildlife either solo or just one other. It's much quieter and unobtrusive this way.
I think you'll find conditions at Garten are better for viewing with binoculars than for for shooting with a camera. That said, if you're up that way then it's worth a visit just to watch them. Plugging the competition, you may well find you get better views and earache from shouting Osprey chicks at the SWT reserve at Loch of the Lowes nr Dunkeld - through from experience it's out of photo range even with a 700/1000mm. The nest at L-o-t-l is far more natural looking too - at least the tree is still alive
So if we rule those Scottish sites out for any real photography opportunities that leaves Florida, lake Arne in Sweden and the Osprey Center pond in Finland to investigate further unless anyone knows better?
Most trout farms in the Kingussie/ Newtonmore/ Aviemore area will have bother with Ospreys and are generally only too happy to have photographers paying them a small fee to witness how adept they are at taking fish.
I know of one or two nest sites over on this side, but because of where they are situated it is better if they are kept quiet, egg snatchers have been active here over the past few years causing a lot of damage to the breeding success of these birds.
Internet forums are great places for sharing info, but sometimes it is better to email or phone someone you know who has taken Osprey shots and find out the info that way.
John
Posted by Vincent Jones on March 24, 2006 at 3:19 PM
Well put John With regards to what I asked earlier, I thought there were good public locations at a safe distance in the UK suitable for a 600mm.
Discussion
11 repliesRegards
John S
I went a few years ago for xmas and checked the site out,I think it would be a good site as long as you can get next to the lake,I dont think there are restrictions but maybe worth giving the hut there a ring-sorry dont have number,and obviuosly check to make sure the ospreys are there at the time,I think they leave around august time and should arrive in the next month or so
Photography of the nest is pretty simple from the public hide however you will need a good reach, 500 + TC minimum. Other delights are Crested Tits, Crossbills, Caper and breeding Goldeneye on Loch Morlich.
There are plenty of Roe deer around at this time of year also. Oh, and pine martens at the car park litter bins early morning.
Hope this helps
Brian
The nest is some distance from the loch shore and is situated in the pine woods. Photographing birds on the nest is relatively easy (with a long lens) but you are photographing from the ground looking up so the angle isn't brilliant.
Getting next to the loch is not a problem but it's a large loch and I think I am right in saying the birds tend not to hunt the actual loch. It's quite common for birds of prey not to hunt near their nests so they don't draw attention to them.
For one of the best Osprey photo opportunities in Scotland try the fish farm just south of Aviemore (east of the main road). For a small fee you can use the hide and get superb views of fishing birds. They are present from April to August with mid summer being best when the adults have young to feed so need to fish more regularly.
Hope that helps
Paul
Sorry, carry on now.
Wonder if they'll be carrying flu with them?
John
Couldn't help but laugh & spill me coffee at Tims comment above, hillarious
Vince, I'm planning on mid to late July but wouldn't want to turn this into a group trip really. I've always achieved better results with wildlife either solo or just one other. It's much quieter and unobtrusive this way.
I think you'll find conditions at Garten are better for viewing with binoculars than for for shooting with a camera. That said, if you're up that way then it's worth a visit just to watch them. Plugging the competition, you may well find you get better views and earache from shouting Osprey chicks at the SWT reserve at Loch of the Lowes nr Dunkeld - through from experience it's out of photo range even with a 700/1000mm. The nest at L-o-t-l is far more natural looking too - at least the tree is still alive
I know of one or two nest sites over on this side, but because of where they are situated it is better if they are kept quiet, egg snatchers have been active here over the past few years causing a lot of damage to the breeding success of these birds.
Internet forums are great places for sharing info, but sometimes it is better to email or phone someone you know who has taken Osprey shots and find out the info that way.
John