Birds Ospreys in the Cairngorms

[Liam McBride]

Of all subjects in photography I always anticipate the return of the Ospreys from Western Africa each year. Locally we have a good population and some fantastic beaches,rivers, lochs and paid hides to use to watch them.
One of my favourite locations is up in the Cairngorm mountains and requires that you are there before first light to get comfortable and seated before the first bird of the day arrives to feed.
The drive up leaves you wondering what the weather will do and how the birds will behave, will they fight over fish, will there be sunlight or will they come in one by one. The mountains are often lit up pink with snow caps and you just hope that everything comes together.
The exhilaration of sitting at water level and often having an Osprey dive less than five feet away never gets boring.
I have shared some examples from the 2024 season, shot on the Alpha 1 with the 200-600G. I am hoping to shoot them this year with the 300mm F2.8 and 1.4TC.
Feel free to ask any questions on the location and setup.

• ILCE-1
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 12800

• ILCE-1
• 600.0 mm
• ƒ/6.3
• 1/2000 sec
• ISO 12800

 

[Loke]

Stunning shots!

 

[Unframed Dave]

Awesome shots.

I'll start with a few questions:

1. I'm a boy of the fens, inclines don't agree with me and I'm not inclined to argue. How much leg work is involved in getting to the hides? I can walk pretty much any distance on the flat.

2. What time of year is best, I'm guessing it's a balance between their migration and fighting off the monstrous midges.

3. How far to the nearest deep fried Mars bar?

 

[Liam McBride]

Stunning shots!

Thank you Loke

 

[Liam McBride]

Awesome shots.

I'll start with a few questions:

1. I'm a boy of the fens, inclines don't agree with me and I'm not inclined to argue. How much leg work is involved in getting to the hides? I can walk pretty much any distance on the flat.

2. What time of year is best, I'm guessing it's a balance between their migration and fighting off the monstrous midges.

3. How far to the nearest deep fried Mars bar?

Hi Dave, In terms of walking you are talking 60 seconds from car park to hide. The hides usually open around the end of April until into August (can often be busier July/August as they are feeding the chicks) depending on action and how many people have booked in as people visit from all over the world.
You can have anything from two dives in the morning or up to twenty but it's usually a fantastic morning out.
Starts at 4.30am and you are usually done by 8.30/9am as once people start to show up on the trails and kids areas they tend to back off until sunset. Deep fried Mars bars could be achieved with a ten minute walk to town.

 

[Unframed Dave]

Cool, looks like I'm off to Scotland sometime this year.

 

[FowlersFreeTime]

Fantastic shots!

 

[Liam McBride]

Cool, looks like I'm off to Scotland sometime this year.

Cool, I'll maybe see you there . I can send you details of the owner and his website if you want.

 

[Unframed Dave]

Cool, I'll maybe see you there . I can send you details of the owner and his website if you want.

Please

 

[Liam McBride]

Fantastic shots!

Thank you!