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Pui Hang’s review of the 2017 Dalmatian Pelican Photography Tour

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Pui Hang

06
Aug

Lake Kerkini in Northern Greece is situated in the northeast of the district of Serret just 40km from the town of Serres & 100km from Thessaloniki. The lake is one of the most important wetlands in Europe with about 300 bird species having been observed there. Among them, the Dalmatian Pelican, a prehistoric looking but utterly photogenic & charismatic bird.

Our 2017 Dalmatian Pelicans Photography Tours to photograph the Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini marked our third year of visiting this beautiful lake & back in January, I had the pleasure of leading the first of our two trips out there with Sean Weekly, the newest member of our guiding team.

I have to admit to being more than a little excited about the trip. Kerkini was experiencing its coldest winter in over a decade with lots of snow & ice, something they had not seen in 15 years & snow was something that we have been hoping for since we started visiting the area.

As we approached our hotel, we could see that the lake was completely frozen over, which meant boat trips were not going to be possible unless there was a big thaw while we were out there.

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The last of the Dalmatian Pelican images from Sean

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Sean Weekly

07
Jul

In January I had the pleasure of co-guiding one of the NaturesLens Dalmatian Pelicans of Greece Photography Holidays, along with Pui Hang. We took a group out to Greece to capture images of an oft-overlooked bird, the Dalmatian Pelican. This is the third and final part of a series of three blog posts covering the trip. All the Dalmatian Pelican images shown here were taken on this spectacular trip. If you missed the first part, then you can read it here or the second part here.

We had hoped that the lake would thaw sufficiently for a boat trip on our last day. The sun was melting the ice and snow by day but by night the temperatures dropped, freezing the lake again. Ironically, the second group led by Dan were hoping that the lake remained frozen so that they could also have a chance at getting some unique shots too.

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More imagery of the Kerkini Pelicans from Sean

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Sean Weekly

29
Jun

In January I had the pleasure of co-guiding one of the NaturesLens Dalmatian Pelicans of Greece Photography Holidays, along with Pui Hang. We took a group out to Greece to capture images of an oft-overlooked bird – the Kerkini Pelicans. This is the second part of a series of three blog posts covering the trip, with more Dalmatian Pelicans images taken by myself. If you missed the first part, then you can read it here.

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The 1st of a series of images captured on Lake Kerkini by Sean

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Sean Weekly

27
Jun

In January I had the pleasure of co-guiding the NaturesLens Dalmatian Pelicans of Lake Kerkini Photography Holiday, along with Pui Hang. We took a group out to Greece to capture images of an oft-overlooked bird – the Dalmatian Pelican. This is the first part of a series of three blog posts covering the trip & showcases some of the images that I captured.

It was looking to be a unique trip as Lake Kerkini had its harshest winter in over 16 years. In fact, the weather was so harsh that the whole 17km lake had completely frozen over! This was going to make the trip completely different from any other. In the past, the itinerary was such that we would be heading out onto Lake Kerkini in boats to photograph the pelicans in beautiful morning light. This trip was not to have the same itinerary in any way whatsoever, but it would offer a whole different experience altogether!

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Johan’s images of Kerkini’s Dalmatian Pelicans

Posted on June 25, 2017 by David Miles

25
Jun

The ice and snow that covered Lake Kerkini on this year’s Dalmatian Pelican trip facilitated some fantastic & creative images from our guests. Here are some images which were taken by Johan, who was extremely happy with the weather conditions that allowed him to unleash his creativity.
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Pelicans of Greece … continued …

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Daniel Trim

28
May

As we moved into the second half of our Pelicans of Greece Photography Holiday the lake had really started to thaw with larger areas opening up. With an increasing area to fish in the birds started to move around, the sheer number of cormorant fishing in the open areas was astonishing & another reflection on how productive the lake is. Here rafts of them can be seen snorkelling whilst pelicans wait on the peripheries hoping to steal their catch. I shot this with a slower shutter & again high key to try & replicate the effects of a painting.

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New dates for the Grizzlies of Bear Cave Mountain

Posted on April 25, 2017 by David Miles

25
Apr

We have been able to get some dates for a return to the Ice Bears of the Yukon, this is the photography holiday for the Grizzlies of Bear Cave Mountain – our original trip takes place during 2018, & sold out instantly; demand for places at Grizzly Bear Photography at Bear Cave Mountain is very high as only around 24 people get to spend time at the location each year!

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A different angle on Kerkini’s Dalmatian Pelicans

Posted on April 21, 2017 by David Miles

21
Apr

Derek has been on several photography tours & trips now with NaturesLens – you can see his images of Florida’s Blue Cypress Lake Ospreys elsewhere on our blog – & right now, he is in Calera, photographing some of the best birds that the Spanish Plains have to offer; however, in January, he joined Dan’s group & flew out to Thessaloniki, the intent of the trip, to capture some images to add to his portfolio of Kerkini’s Dalmatian Pelicans.

Like the first group, the second group found Kerkini wrapped in the cold embrace of winter conditions that had not been experienced for years; parts of the lake remained frozen whilst they were there, gradually thawing towards the end of their trip, although the normal boat trip could not head out onto the lake, our local guides took the various group members out on small fishermen’s boats instead.

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Winter Wildlife in Japan – Stellers & White Tailed Sea Eagles

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Pui Hang

19
Apr

Stellers & White Tailed Sea Eagles – more aspects of Winter Wildlife in Japan

The fourth & last instalment of Nicola’s images is dedicated to the magnificent Steller’s & White Tailed Sea Eagles. Our winter wildlife in Japan tour includes six boat trips to photograph these fantastic raptors. Each day, the group faced different weather conditions which presented them with different photographic opportunities. Sometimes, the Eagles came so close that the group were almost over-lensed with intermediate zoom lenses!

A visit to one of several frozen lakes in the area is always included in our tour, & this year yielded some great images of the Eagles ‘striding’ across the ice.

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Winter Wildlife in Japan – Whooper Swans & Foxes

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Pui Hang

17
Apr

Whooper Swans – the graceful aspect of Winter Wildlife in Japan

The Whooper Swans of Lake Kussharo are always a revelation to our guests. When one thinks of winter wildlife in Japan, the first thought is inevitable, Snow Monkeys, followed closely by Steller’s Sea Eagles & Red-Crowned Cranes. But people rarely think “I want to go there to photograph whooper swans” & who would blame them?

Take a look at Nicola’s images below. Such beautiful, elegant birds with plenty of opportunities to photograph them in flight, walking in the snow & sat on the lake with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The possibilities are endless.

A bevy of whooper swans wander across the snowy landscape of Hokkaido photographed by Nicola Billows during the NaturesLens Japanese Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday A pair of whooper swans wander across the snowy landscape of Hokkaido photographed by Nicola Billows during the NaturesLens Japanese Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday A solitary whooper swan isolated within the snowy landscape of Hokkaido photographed by Nicola Billows during the NaturesLens Japanese Winter Wildlife Photography Holiday Continue reading →

Facebook Rating

5.0

NaturesLens

Ann James

2018-08-28T17:56:44+0000

Great set up, so accomodating to individual needs, leaders have a wealth of knowledge and experience - re camera setup, angles, lighting etc that they are so happy to share, brilliant locations, and generally all round value for money

David Jones

2018-07-17T15:44:04+0000

I have been on a number of trips with NaturesLens and this one was like all of my previous ones: well organised with excellent leaders, at the correct time for maximum photography and generally provided a great time.

Susie Cro

2018-07-07T14:53:38+0000

What a fabulous experience. I was looked after from start to finish by our guides Sean and Jayne who made this, my first photographic holiday, one to remember. I enjoyed my time so much that I booked two further trips on my return and I’m now off to Wales and then Greece. We had a fabulous group of people on our excursion and I have made good friends, some of which I will meet up with on my next trips. If you ever wanted to join a photo tour but weren’t sure who to use then look no further, NaturesLens will do you proud!

Laura Galbraith

2018-06-25T20:32:28+0000

Recently went to Skomer with Natures Lens. Excellent guides, well organised, great group. What more can you ask for.

Ali Basil

2018-06-21T16:18:53+0000

First time on a trip with Naturelens to Skomer, great organisation and prices. David and Pui were very helpful prior to going on the trip. The trip was guided by Sean and Jayne which were helping us all the time, learned a lot from them and got some nice photos that I couldn’t manage to get before. We struggled a bit with the weather but the guides handled it well. It was my first time also to be with a group and it was a nice & fun � Can’t wait to go on another trip with Naturelens soon.

Kuruma Sangam

2018-04-08T08:49:27+0000

Tony Caseiro

2018-03-23T20:39:10+0000

Mark Jankiewicz

2018-02-23T04:31:35+0000

Just sitting in the airport in Tokyo waiting for my flight home after finishing the Japanese Winter trip with #Natureslens.Wow - what a trip. The team lead a flawless trip that encompassed stunning scenery, superb local accommodation through to the main reason for being here, the stunning wildlife.Everything was as promised but with so much more. I won't go into detail about the wildlife here as that will be evident from the photos posted on the site.What I do want to do is document what an exceptional company #Natureslens are. It starts with the initial communications and unlike most companies they respond almost immediately to emails and are always at the end of the phone. The help, assistance and honest guidance they provide is exemplary. During the trip they use local contacts that have been cultivated over many years and the team and the contacts fully understand the special requirements that photography puts on location and travel. We stayed in some of the best hotels that range from superb western style, to very traditional Japanese accomodation. Each place being ideally suited close to the 'viewing locations' so that travel is minimised and time at site is maximised. They go out of their way to fulfil any dietary requests, with all the locations being able to cater for mixed requirements, at no point was it 'it is that or nothing'.On this trip there were two that made up the team and three guests. At no point did I have to wait for any guidance or assistance, which was freely and generously given. We had a mixture of photographic skills on the trip and Dave and Ian were more than able to provide us all with help. Equally as important as the help was the fact that that if you wanted to do your own thing then that was fine as well.I was so impressed with this holiday that I am now booked on my next trip in South Africa on safari with these guys, so it is 'out of the freezer into the frying pan' (or something like that).

George Reekie

2018-01-24T19:13:16+0000

Great trip to see Dalmatian Pelicans at Lake Kerkini. Leader, Sean, was great as was the boatman. The group was probably the most fun I have ever been on a trip with! The hotel and boatmen were excellent. All in all it was a very good three days of photography.

Annette Webersinke

2018-01-17T10:05:43+0000

...loved it! Perfect organization, wonderful guide, beautiful location, gorgeous models, breathtaking early morning boat trips, nice people, good food and a lot of fun...what more would you want...

Csaba Tökölyi

2017-07-21T08:16:40+0000

Just returned a few days ago from a trip to Skomer island, Wales with NaturesLens, and I wish I would be heading back again tomorrow. One thing that location was fantastic, it also came through that they had a lot of planning put into the trip. The guides were friendly and helpful and had extensive knowledge of the place, therefore always could recommend a place for any time of day and kind of light. Those little extras that food was plentiful and great were the cherry on the cake. If you are into puffins, think no longer!

Annette O'Connell

2017-07-19T19:40:57+0000

Just returned from my first visit to Skomer Island with Natureslens. From start to finish it was an exciting well organised trip.Sean and Kevin our host photographers were fun, knowledgeable and most importantly extremely helpful. In fact Kevin let me try out one of his lenses over 2 days.Despite not having the knowledge and experience of my fellow travellers through their help and that of Sean and Kevin I've come home with some much improved images. I plan on joining Natureslens again especially if either of these talented photographers are leading it.

Karen Jehan

2017-07-18T22:02:17+0000

Have been with them on 2 occasions to Skomer to photograph the Puffins, their trips are well organised with detailed information about what is included in the trip. The guides are knowledgable in making sure you get the shots you want and are great fun to be around.....their cooking isn't bad either! :-) Looking forward to the next trip to Greece.

Simon Armstrong

2017-07-06T18:58:20+0000

I’ve been on numerous Natures Lens workshops here in the UK and around the world, and can’t wait to go on my next one with them. The communication they provide is top notch, and ensures that the lead-up to the trip is as smooth as possible, you know what to expect on the trip, and most importantly, what to take with you!Once there, it’s clear that long and careful planning has gone into the trip in order to give you the most and best possible opportunities to photograph wildlife in their natural environments. They obviously take great pride in seeing what photographs their clients can achieve, and arevhappy to have some flexibility, if the trip permits, so that you can try and get that one shot you’re after. As always, the tour leads are experienced photographers and are more than happy to give you any help and advice you may want with your gear, composition, technique, etc.Most of all, a photography trip with Natures Lens isn’t a workshop - it’s a photography holiday. It’s an opportunity to share your wildlife photography passion with like minded people, take great photos, learn new things, see nature and wildlife at it’s best, and have lots of fun and make new friends in the process.

Trevor Firth

2017-07-04T08:54:43+0000

This was my first experience of an organised trip to Finland for the Brown Bears and I was not disappointed! It was a pleasure to be in the company of like minded passionate photographers quickly falling into a relaxed and enjoyable environment, apart from the damn mosquito's!As with all things nature there are dynamics outside human control and despite these challenges the Natures Lens Team of Pui and Sean kept us on the straight and narrow enhancing the experience with ad-hoc photography one on ones. I particularly enjoyed the portrait workshops in the low activity periods provided by Sean!The location and wildlife were stunning combined with some great people and new friends I cannot recommend this team enough and five stars do not seem enough for the experience.

Tamara Cartwright-Loebl

2017-06-29T02:43:52+0000

Brett Lewis

2017-06-26T10:29:43+0000

I've joined NaturesLens on just two occasion and each time we visited the natural history spectacle that is the puffin colony on Skomer island.For each trip the communications have been excellent and the details provided ahead of the adventure have enabled me to be well prepared for each trip.Once on the island the accommodation has been exactly as expected and the hospitality provided by the hosts has been excellent. Great, friendly banter and helpful in every way.The photography opportunities are boundless and the advice on offer is always close to hand. The team are considerate and are always checking to make sure the needs of their clients are met, with 1-2-1 opportunities for beginners and those looking to get the best out of their equipment. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time on the island and I'd highly recommend it.

Wayne Tuckwell

2017-06-26T10:19:49+0000

Have been on a couple of events with NaturesLens and have found them to be professional and well organised each time. Communication prompt and all details communicated in a timely fashion.Excellent photographic knowledge to help you get the best shots in the time you have.If you are in the market for a photographic trip, then NaturesLens are well worth looking at.

Ian Roberts

2017-06-26T09:38:12+0000

I've been on several NaturesLens holidays and workshops and never had a bad experience. Not sure what I'm most impressed with: Their planning is meticulous and they try to anticipate every eventuality beforehand. The locations are extensively researched and are difficult to better. Local contacts, guides and drivers are experienced, high quality, and know the best places to go to get the sightings. The 'tour leaders' are experienced photographers and can offer advice on settings and composition, but it does help if you are already familiar with your equipment. Accommodation and dining is high quality, even when it's simple and stripped back. Most of all, you're going to have fun with like-minded people. I can thoroughly recommend NaturesLens

Jane Hodges

2017-06-25T23:43:33+0000

I attended a two day Red Deer Workshop last Year which was superbly run. From start to finish, ease of booking to having a great tutor for the weekend in Sean Weekly. I managed to capture some great images despite the rather wet conditions. It certainly did not stop us as a group from having a brilliant time. I have made some lovely friends and I have already booked other trips with Natures Lens.

Peter Martin Bentsen

2017-06-25T21:17:04+0000

Very well organized, with all the right information before, under and after the trip. Often smaller groups which is a big advantage. Always ready to answer questions if you have any. They always strive to put the clients in the best possible situations for them to make some really nice shots. Natureslens is highly recommended and just really nice people too :-)

Vedant Dubey

2017-06-25T15:14:10+0000

One of the best tour company, with great photographic opportunities,

Sorcha Lewis

2017-06-25T14:53:56+0000

I did a wonderful birds of prey photography workshop with Natureslens. There was so much help and I learnt so many new photography skills. Everything was taught as you went along and at a natural speed and much of what I learned has really helped with my wildlife and general photography. So I'm just about to embark (today) on the bears of Finland trip. I'm really excited and know I'm in very capable hands as everything is so well organised by NaturesLens. I'm already looking ahead to which wonderful trip I should book in 2018. Love meeting like minded people on trips like this as well.Thank you for all your hard work; you guys are doing an amazing job.UPDATE: Wow Finland was amazing, we were provided with so many opportunities to capture and watch these amazing animals in the wild. I was really pleased with my pictures and had great help and advice with how to achieve the most from my camera and photos from Pui and Sean. Would definitely recommend.... enjoyed watching the red squirrels near the accommodation; so these were delightful to photograph.....

Alan Grant

2017-06-25T14:18:11+0000

Always good trips, with great photographic opportunities, and lots of camaraderie. Recommended.

Frederic Falconnier

2017-01-18T12:32:49+0000

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Tag Archives: ice

When we publish an update, we’ll send you an update

galleries, worldwide tours

Pui Hang’s review of the 2017 Dalmatian Pelican Photography Tour

announcements, client images, worldwide tours

The last of the Dalmatian Pelican images from Sean

galleries, worldwide tours

More imagery of the Kerkini Pelicans from Sean

galleries, worldwide tours

The 1st of a series of images captured on Lake Kerkini by Sean

client images, worldwide tours

Johan’s images of Kerkini’s Dalmatian Pelicans

client images, reports, worldwide tours

Pelicans of Greece … continued …

announcements, worldwide tours

New dates for the Grizzlies of Bear Cave Mountain

client images, galleries, worldwide tours

A different angle on Kerkini’s Dalmatian Pelicans

announcements, client images, galleries, worldwide tours

Winter Wildlife in Japan – Stellers & White Tailed Sea Eagles

Stellers & White Tailed Sea Eagles – more aspects of Winter Wildlife in Japan

client images, galleries, worldwide tours

Winter Wildlife in Japan – Whooper Swans & Foxes

Whooper Swans – the graceful aspect of Winter Wildlife in Japan

When we publish an update, we’ll send you an update