I have been fascinated by Golden Eagles for over thirty years now, having lived in the West Highlands of Scotland I had plenty of opportunities to watch and photograph Golden Eagles but always from a distance, I dreamt of photographing one close-up but never managed it. I moved to East Lothian two years ago so any chance of a Goldie photo got a lot less likely. I was browsing the internet one night when I came across Wild Arena Photography Tours one of the Tours was Photographing Golden and White-tailed Eagles in Norway in January for the Price £1890 Flights were £200 extra. This sounded like a way of fulfilling my dream so I signed on the Dotted Line.
A cold January Morning saw five photographers and David Southard Director of Wild Arena assemble at Heathrow for our flight to Trondhiem all went to plan and we arrived on time to be met at the Airport by our guide for the trip Ole Martin Dahle, A 21/2 hrs drive north found us at our base for the week Lauvsnes in the Flatanger Region.
Our accommodation was a newly built Lodge where basic food was supplied on a help yourself basis this worked very well with no waiting for breakfast needed as we did start early in the Morning food and Thermos were provided for a picnic lunch, We went to the Local Inn for a Meal in the Evening.
At the first evening get together we decided to split into two teams of three one team going to the Golden Eagle Hide the other to the Goshawk Hide I managed the Eagle hide on the first day so Tired but excited I retired to bed early.
Equipment. After taking advice I had brought my Canon 400mm DO lens Canon 1D Mark lll body and a 1.4 Extender a Manfrotto 444 Carbon Tripod.
Day One
I did not sleep well the Wind had risen to Gale Force overnight the Roof had rattled all night there was light Snow and Ice on the Roads I was a bit concerned if we would Make it to our Mountain hide that day, No need to worry a cheery Ole turned up at 6.45am not in the Least concerned by the Weather after a 1/2 drive we stopped at a lay-by deep in the Mountains.From the Road to the Eagle Hide was a very steep Snowy and icy climb, with 6 layers of clothes on plus a backpack full of gear all this done in the dark with a 40km wind blowing it was a very weary JT that reached the Hide. The Hide we used for the Eagles had been insulated and then lined with timber there was a small Spirit Heater which was much needed, There was a canvas screen with a drawstring to put your Lens through this was then tied from the outside by the Guide so you could not be seen by the birds this also stopped you changing Lenses which avoided disturbing the birds. The Chairs in the Hide were covered with a Reindeer Hide which is extremely warm, A chemical toilet in a cubical is also provided. The only view you have of the area in front of the Hide is through a small slot covered with dark glass or through your camera. All well thought out so there is no disturbance to the Birds. The carcasses left out are mostly Road kills the local Police phone the guides when they find a road kill which is then used as supplementary feeding for the Eagles over the Winter.
Some of the Foxes are Animals that are culled by Local Farmers instead of being buried they are used to Feed the Golden and White-tailed Sea Eagles from late October until March.
Ole wished us good luck and left he would return when it was near dark. Two Hours later in poor light our first Eagle appeared it was a struggle to focus in the light we had but you just felt you had to get a shot, Just as the light was improving my companion in the Hide picked up a tissue and started to clean the glass in his viewing slot, The Eagle was off immediately, I had not met my companions before the trip but I felt I had to mention this was not a good idea. My second companion a Lady then started to change Lenses this was strictly forbidden due to the disturbance it caused to the Birds, Then the first chap who had a Sigma zoom Lens which started to Mist up internally he then changed lenses several times, Hide discipline had broken down completely, After a hour of this madness order was restored. The events in the Hide were gone over in the evening after that there was good Hide discipline and we worked very well as a Team.
Almost immediately order was restored a Eagle appeared in Low but reasonable light a few good shots were now in the Bag I could relax. The day ended with 7 visits from Golden Eagles one arrival coincided with the only glimpse of the Sun we saw that day what luck. Several Jays were feeding on the Carcasses giving us some fine shots between Eagles. Ole returned to collect three very happy photographers just before dark. Even before I looked at my photo’s I knew my Dream had been fulfilled.
The other Team at the Goshawk Hide had no success.
To be continued.
A cold January Morning saw five photographers and David Southard Director of Wild Arena assemble at Heathrow for our flight to Trondhiem all went to plan and we arrived on time to be met at the Airport by our guide for the trip Ole Martin Dahle, A 21/2 hrs drive north found us at our base for the week Lauvsnes in the Flatanger Region.
Our accommodation was a newly built Lodge where basic food was supplied on a help yourself basis this worked very well with no waiting for breakfast needed as we did start early in the Morning food and Thermos were provided for a picnic lunch, We went to the Local Inn for a Meal in the Evening.
At the first evening get together we decided to split into two teams of three one team going to the Golden Eagle Hide the other to the Goshawk Hide I managed the Eagle hide on the first day so Tired but excited I retired to bed early.
Equipment. After taking advice I had brought my Canon 400mm DO lens Canon 1D Mark lll body and a 1.4 Extender a Manfrotto 444 Carbon Tripod.
Day One
I did not sleep well the Wind had risen to Gale Force overnight the Roof had rattled all night there was light Snow and Ice on the Roads I was a bit concerned if we would Make it to our Mountain hide that day, No need to worry a cheery Ole turned up at 6.45am not in the Least concerned by the Weather after a 1/2 drive we stopped at a lay-by deep in the Mountains.From the Road to the Eagle Hide was a very steep Snowy and icy climb, with 6 layers of clothes on plus a backpack full of gear all this done in the dark with a 40km wind blowing it was a very weary JT that reached the Hide. The Hide we used for the Eagles had been insulated and then lined with timber there was a small Spirit Heater which was much needed, There was a canvas screen with a drawstring to put your Lens through this was then tied from the outside by the Guide so you could not be seen by the birds this also stopped you changing Lenses which avoided disturbing the birds. The Chairs in the Hide were covered with a Reindeer Hide which is extremely warm, A chemical toilet in a cubical is also provided. The only view you have of the area in front of the Hide is through a small slot covered with dark glass or through your camera. All well thought out so there is no disturbance to the Birds. The carcasses left out are mostly Road kills the local Police phone the guides when they find a road kill which is then used as supplementary feeding for the Eagles over the Winter.
Some of the Foxes are Animals that are culled by Local Farmers instead of being buried they are used to Feed the Golden and White-tailed Sea Eagles from late October until March.
Ole wished us good luck and left he would return when it was near dark. Two Hours later in poor light our first Eagle appeared it was a struggle to focus in the light we had but you just felt you had to get a shot, Just as the light was improving my companion in the Hide picked up a tissue and started to clean the glass in his viewing slot, The Eagle was off immediately, I had not met my companions before the trip but I felt I had to mention this was not a good idea. My second companion a Lady then started to change Lenses this was strictly forbidden due to the disturbance it caused to the Birds, Then the first chap who had a Sigma zoom Lens which started to Mist up internally he then changed lenses several times, Hide discipline had broken down completely, After a hour of this madness order was restored. The events in the Hide were gone over in the evening after that there was good Hide discipline and we worked very well as a Team.
Almost immediately order was restored a Eagle appeared in Low but reasonable light a few good shots were now in the Bag I could relax. The day ended with 7 visits from Golden Eagles one arrival coincided with the only glimpse of the Sun we saw that day what luck. Several Jays were feeding on the Carcasses giving us some fine shots between Eagles. Ole returned to collect three very happy photographers just before dark. Even before I looked at my photo’s I knew my Dream had been fulfilled.
The other Team at the Goshawk Hide had no success.
To be continued.
