Category Archives: scotland

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Where in the World Can I Go to Safely Photograph Wildlife?

Posted on by David Miles
Stellars Sea Eagle in flight
19
Sep

It's easy, we've matched up travel corridors & locations already!

A number of guests have contacted us asking the exact question above, ‘Where in the world can I go to safely photograph wildlife?’, so, we have been looking at the regions of the world that ARE open to travellers & NOT on the list of prescribed countries, which is a long way of saying, we’ve been working out where people can still go to SAFELY photograph wildlife. Obviously, over time, this list may change.
If you fancy travelling in 2021, we’ve listed the wildlife photography holidays that we still have availability on & that are OPEN to UK travellers

KERKINI’S DALMATIAN PELICANS OF GREECE

We have a couple of places that remain available for this popular tour that we have been running for a number of years now. Like all of our trips, all guidelines will be followed, regulations are taken into account & it is of course covered by our booking guarantee. Right now, Greece is certainly one of the places that you can safely photograph wildlife!
So, you can join David, one of the co-founders of NaturesLens, in Kerkini during January 2021 for 4 nights; take the opportunity to capture images of the charismatic dalmatian pelicans; the NaturesLens Kerkini’s Dalmatian Pelicans of Greece photography trip is offered on a full board, non-shared room basis, & costs £1099 per participant.
MORE INFORMATION HERE

WILDLIFE OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

This new trip of ours, to the Scottish Highlands, also has a couple of places available. It is within the UK, so it a different beast from travelling abroad. You can join James in Inverness during February 2021 for 7 nights; during the week you will be taking opportunities to capture images of the wildlife of the Scottish Highlands.
The NaturesLens Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands photography tour is offered on a full board, non-shared room basis, & costs £1749 per participant. This holiday of the Scottish Highlands allows you a glimpse of some of the country’s unique & beautiful wildlife, including the red squirrel, mountain hare, red deer, red grouse, ptarmigan, crested tit & more.
MORE INFORMATION HERE

WINTER WILDLIFE OF JAPAN

We hope to return to Japan in February 2021 for our tenth holiday! Every year the trip gets better & better as we add new sites & sights to the trip. During the trip you will visit Central Honshu & Northern Hokkaido & gain an insight into the variety of landscapes & wildlife which exists throughout the country, made even more photogenic by dramatic winter conditions.
The photographic opportunities on our Japanese Winter Wildlife photography tour are always without parallel, with opportunities to photograph the red-crowned cranes, Steller’s sea eagles, white-tailed sea eagle, whooper swans, & of course, the Snow Monkeys, during this awesome photography tour.
We remain hopeful that the trip will run. At the moment, Japan is closed to tourists, but it is on the travel corridor scheme from the FCO so we remain hopeful that the Japanese restrictions will be lifted in time & that the holiday will run.
MORE INFORMATION HERE

GOLDEN EAGLES OF THE SWEDISH WINTER

Our holiday to the snow-covered forests of northern Sweden to photograph the Golden Eagles of the Swedish Winter is another holiday to a travel corridor safe location. If you fancy this, you will get to spend 4 full-days in the hide observing breath-taking scenes as golden eagles soar & settle in their remote & unspoilt habitats. This is an extraordinary wildlife photography tour, like all our trips, this is designed with photographers in mind to ensure you are given the best experience possible.
MORE INFORMATION HERE

SPRING BIRDS OF LAKE KERKINI

We have a couple of places that remain available for this popular holiday to Kerkini in the Spring. Just like the winter tour, all guidelines from the Greek authorities will be followed, regulations are taken into account & it is of course covered by our booking guarantee. Right now, Greece is certainly one of the places that you can safely photograph wildlife!
You can join Iordan in Kerkini during May 2021 for 5 nights; you will spend several days in the lakeside environment, taking photo opportunities with all the birdlife that calls the lake & it’s environs home, including little owls, bee-eaters, herons, cormorants, the pelicans & much more. This trip is scheduled to take place between the dates of 24th – 29th May 2021 – & it is on special offer at £1599 instead of £1749.
MORE INFORMATION HERE

GREEK MACRO WILDLIFE OF KERKINI

We have a couple of places that remain available for this tour, which is now in its second year, to Kerkini for macro photography. Just like the winter trip all guidelines from the Greek authorities will be followed, regulations are taken into account & it is of course covered by our booking guarantee. Right now, Greece is certainly one of the places that you can safely photograph wildlife!
You can join Iordan in Kerkini during June 2021 for 7 nights; you will spend several days in the lakeside environment, taking photo opportunities with all manner of tiny creatures. This photography tour is all about macro photography, & you will find the amphibians, reptiles, insects & flowers to be incredible, with 100’s of varieties, for example, of moths & dragonflies. This trip is scheduled to take place between the dates of 30th May – 6th June 2021.
MORE INFORMATION HERE

MAJESTIC BROWN BEARS & CUBS OF FINLAND

Finland IS on the designated travel corridors. The bears are fabulous & the holiday has a discount of £200 on it at the moment. The NaturesLens Majestic Brown Bears & Cubs of Finland photography holiday heads deep into the Finnish forests to photograph the native brown bears & their adorable cubs. The remote woodland habitat offers the perfect backdrop in which to capture these majestic predators & their offspring as they play, hunt & maintain their territory.
Unlike some operators who visit just one location, you will be visiting two of the best locations in Finland to capture incredible images of this secretive species with opportunities to also photograph wolverine & if you are lucky, the wolf. What’s more, you will also be photographing from the professional hides which take just two photographers instead of the regular hides which take 9 or 12 photographers.
This trip is scheduled to take place between the dates of 12th – 18th June 2021- & it is on special offer at £1799 instead of £1999.
MORE INFORMATION HERE

OUR BOOKING GUARANTEE

We would love to see you on one of these holidays with us soon – don’t forget our booking guarantee makes things a lot easier, if we need to move or cancel a holiday, we will simply make it as easy as we can for you
OUR BOOKING GUARANTEE
announcements, scotland, uk tours

Six classic species from the fabulous Scottish Highlands in Winter

Posted on by David Miles
15
Sep

Close to home for those of us in the United Kingdom, & not too far for our European friends, the fabulous wildlife of the Scottish Highlands in Winter offers opportunities to capture classic images of several different species, both in portrait style, but also within the environment.

Top of the list for anyone hoping to capture evocative images of the wildlife of the Scottish Highlands has to be the Red Squirrel.
Red Squirrels are just one of the species to photograph during the NaturesLens Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands Photography Holiday
Within the Caledonian forests, you will find the Red Squirrel darting from tree to tree & scampering across the ground in search of food. There are estimated to be only 160,000 red squirrels remaining in the UK, 75% of which are in Scotland. Loss of woodland in the past has caused difficulties for red squirrels, but Scottish forests are currently expanding.
Mountain Hares are amongst the species to photograph whilst in the Scottish Highlands during Winter
Second, slightly harder to obtain images of due to the altitudes at which they live, the Mountain Hare, this species is renowned for turning white in winter to match their upland surroundings; this is just one part of how this creature has adapted to polar & mountainous habitats.
Ptarmigan are just one of the species to photograph during the NaturesLens Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands Photography Holiday
Also found at higher altitudes, & also a species that changes colour according to the season, the Ptarmigan; the ptarmigan is a medium-sized gamebird in the grouse family. In summer, it is a mixture of grey, brown & black above with white bellies & wings. In winter, it becomes white except for its tail & eye-patch, which remain black.
Impressive Red Deer are included in the species to photograph in the Scottish Highlands during Winter
The red deer is Scotland’s largest deer. Males have large, branching antlers, increasing in size as they get older. Red deer are dark russet-brown, with a paler buff rump patch & a light tail. Red deer live on moorland & mountainsides, as well as grasslands near to woodland.
The punk rock Crested Tit is one of the species to photograph during the NaturesLens Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands Photography Holiday
The Crested Tit is a species which you will only find within the Caledonian pine forest of the Scottish Highlands; they appear to be hyperactive birds, often appearing restless as they forage for food in the Scots pines & on the ground. Although they are less colourful than many of the other tit species, they have a striking crest on the top of their head which can be raised & folded back to varying lengths. Their black & white speckled forehead enhances this impressive feature. They also have a black, eyeliner style, mark through the eye & a thin black collar.
The Red Grouse is one of the species to photograph in the Scottish Highlands during Winter
The red grouse is a medium-sized bird of the grouse family which is found in heather moorland in Great Britain & Ireland. It is usually classified as a subspecies of the willow ptarmigan. The red grouse is differentiated from the willow ptarmigan & rock ptarmigan by its plumage being reddish-brown, & not having a white winter plumage. The tail is black & the legs are white. There are white stripes on the underwing & red combs over the eye.
All these species & more besides can be photographed during our new 7-night photography tour to capture images of the fabulous wildlife of the Scottish Highlands, this will take place between the dates of 7th – 14th February 2021. It is ideal for photographing crested tit, mountain hare, ptarmigan, red deer, red grouse, red squirrel & more. The Scottish Highlands in Winter tour is of 7-nights duration & costs £1749 per participant; this wildlife photography holiday takes place in the Inverness area of Scotland within the United Kingdom.

galleries, natureslens, photography holidays, scotland

Photographing Shetland’s Puffins of Fair-Isle

Posted on by Robin Lowry
A Group Of Puffins On One Of The Headlands Photographed During The NaturesLens Shetland’s Puffins Photography Holiday
17
Nov

Fair Isle is a truly unique place to photograph Shetland’s Puffins. It’s unspoiled, natural & very remote, which brings me to the first stage of this trip: getting to this tiny Island that sits between Shetland & Orkney!

It’s a fantastic adventure to get to Fair Isle & in my opinion, really adds to the excitement of this photographic tour. Continue reading →

client images, galleries, scotland, uk tours

John & Rosamund’s Shetland Puffins

Posted on by David Miles

John & Rosamund were just 2 of our guests on this year’s trip to Fair Isle to photograph the iconic Atlantic Puffin. They were blessed with nearly perfect weather for the entirety of their trip which enabled them to get some fabulous images of the comical clowns of the sea.

A beautifully lit portrait, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday A large group also known as a circus of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday A mouthful of sand eels, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday

Rosamund said “It was a fantastic opportunity for photographing puffins: the colony is healthy & the birds flying in with lots of sand eels. We learnt so much about the behaviour of these charming little birds.”

Courting behavior seen between a pair of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday
Emerging from the burrow, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday Just landed with a mouthful of sand eels, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday One of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday Picking the thrift, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday

Rosamund added “Initially we thought 5 nights was too long, but given the good weather, it was easy to fill the time between morning & evening shoots. When the light was so bright in the middle of the day we much enjoyed ourselves walking the wonderful & accessible coastline & visiting the lighthouses & the museum.”

Ready for take off, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday

I absolutely love this puffin preening shot. Simply stunning & my favourite image from all the ones that they kindly sent in for us to share.

Time for a quick preen, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday Time for a wing stretch, one of the Shetland Puffins photographed during the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair isle Photography Holiday

WHY NOT PHOTOGRAPH THE SHETLAND PUFFINS FOR YOURSELF?

If you would like to photograph the brilliant & comical Puffins of Fair Isle, which Kevin will be again leading in 2018, then you can book the 2018 Puffins Of Fair Isle for £1199. This is a great trip & will fill up fast so don’t miss out.

The trip is scheduled to run between the dates of June 14 – 19, 2018.

We include all accommodation on Fair Isle which is a full board basis, flight from Sumburgh to Fair Isle & ferry back from the island to Sumburgh. The itinerary is flexible between puffin sessions to allow us to photograph other species of birds, including Arctic & Great Skuas, Fulmar & other seabirds or if you wish you can head off on your own & explore the island.

announcements, photography holidays, scotland, workshops

£200 off the Shetland Puffins of Fair-Isle photography tour

Posted on by David Miles

As a New Year special offer, we got a special on the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair-Isle Photography Holiday, we’ve taken £200 of the price – for a limited number of places the price is reduced to £999 from £1199 – the trip package to photography the Shetland Puffins still includes a flight from Sumburgh to Fair Isle, several days on Fair Isle on a full-board basis, & a return ferry – dates for the trip are July 8th – 13th 2017.

Shetland Puffins of Fair-Isle Special Offer

The trip will be lead by Kevin Morgans & he will be on hand to offer photography guidance & to spot opportunities to ensure that you get the best from the the photography tour that you can.

You don’t have to pay the full amount today, a deposit of £200 holds your place on the Shetland Puffins of Fair-Isle, with the balance due in early April 2017.

View the full details of the Shetland Puffins photography trip here.

reports, scotland

My thoughts on the Puffins of Fair-Isle

Posted on by Kevin Morgans
Posing with a gathered flower one of Fair ISles Puffins looks in a contemplative mood photographed on the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair Isle Photographic Holiday
26
Jul

Fair Isle, measuring at just 3km wide & barely 5km long is Britain’s most remote inhabited island. It can be found marooned in the North Sea between Shetland & Orkney. Due to its location it is not the easiest place to get to. But once you set foot on the island, it truly is a puffin paradise & with almost 24 hours of daylight during June it is a photographers dream. The puffin population on Fair Isle may not be the biggest in the UK, but it is difficult to argue that it isn’t the most beautiful. Read on for my thoughts on the Puffins of Fair Isle & why Shetland, & in particular, Fair Isle, is one of the best locations to capture images of the comical clowns of the sea.

Posing with a gathered flower, one of Fair ISle's Puffins looks in a contemplative mood - photographed on the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair Isle Photographic Holiday Continue reading →

client images, galleries, scotland

Some of Stuart’s images from their recent visit to the Puffins of Fair-Isle

Posted on by David Miles
Bathed in golden light at the end of the day one of Fair Isles Atlantic Puffins emerges from its burrow photographed on the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday
12
Jul

Stuart has kindly sent in a selection of images captured on Shetland when they undertook the Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday led by Kevin Morgans.

Fair Isle is the most remote inhabited island in the United Kingdom. It is administratively part of the parish of Dunrossness, Shetland, & is roughly equidistant from Sumburgh Head some 24 miles to the northeast on the Mainland of Shetland & North Ronaldsay, Orkney, some 27 miles to the southwest. Fair Isle is 3 miles long & 1.5 miles wide. It has an area of 3 sq miles, making it the tenth largest of the Shetland Islands.
Fair Isle has a permanent bird observatory, founded by George Waterston in 1948. Because of its importance as a bird migration watchpoint, it provides virtually all of the accommodation on the island.
The light, that is the reason for our photography holidays to both Fair Isle & Skomer which enables the capture of images like this
Continue reading →

announcements, scotland, uk tours

Puffins of Fair-Isle Photography Holiday

Posted on by David Miles
fair isle puffin
02
Nov

A Shetland Puffin as photographed on the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday

We have just launched a new holiday to photograph the most charismatic sea bird of them all, the puffin, our new Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday takes place on Fair Isle an offshore island so remote it feels like you are entering a community far removed from the rest of the world, Fair Isle is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, a jewel protected by soaring craggy cliffs, one moment bathed in sunshine the next topped by a crown of brooding fog.

Dramatic & untouched, our Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday sets the scene for images so atmospheric; they are nothing short of mesmerising.

So, why not head to Shetland, guided by award winning photographer Kevin Morgans, the NaturesLens Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday offers an opportunity to add the distinctive brightly coloured bill & puffy cheeks of the Puffin to your photography portfolio.

Like many of our other trips, all participants who travel alone will have their own room, with no sharing.

The accommodation is on a full board basis in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory & Guesthouse.

Dates are June 16, 2016 – June 21, 2016.

UNTIL NOVEMBER 8th 2015, A DISCOUNTED PRICE OF £999 INSTEAD OF £1099 IS AVAILABLE

Please visit the Puffins of Fair Isle Photography Holiday page for full details & contact us by email if you have any questions.

If you have a question, enquiry or feedback for NaturesLens, please just fill out the form it below & we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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To speak to us, you can phone us on +44 7517 970026.

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