Text by Fiona Wallace and Andrew Winter
Images by Irvine Camera Club
Bird of Prey Photography Day
In recent weeks, members of Irvine Camera Club have travelled to Rothiemurchus for a Bird of Prey Photography experience at The Highland Falconry Centre. Despite the recent heat, they were treated to an incredible experience. Getting close up and photographing their birds.
Starting in a woodland setting from their vantage point on an adjoining track they had a great view, allowing for a good number of images of the birds to be taken - Fiddich the Great Grey Owl and Jungle, a Bespectacled Owl.
The heat of the past weeks made both owls a little reluctant to fly, so birds were perched and static, allowing for close up portrait images to be taken, often with the incredible scenery behind them.
The morning ended down at the farm where Glen the Barn Owl behaved like a sulky teenager and didn’t do what he was told, but some beautiful images were captured.
The afternoon started with Boone the Bald Eagle whose swooping attempts to seize “prey” from the fishery loch were not always successful and eventually he just flopped down in the water.
The highlight of the day was the afternoon moorland visit where the falconers flew a Golden Eagle and a Peregrine Falcon. This was as close to seeing the birds in their natural habitat as possible, and the speed of the peregrine was breathtaking.
Rounding off the session was Loco, a Caracara whose bizarre waddling action added a touch of comedy to the end of the day.
Our thanks to the team at the Centre for a truly inspiring day.
