For this Blog post it’s a bit of an update on my most recent Workshops coming out of Lockdown and what I have planned at the moment going forward.
Like so many people all around the World, the start of lockdown was a complete disaster for me, as my major source of income is the Workshops that I run both in the UK and Overseas, and it was really tough to have to cancel these as it became apparent there was just no way of running them under the strict regulations.
But as lockdown eased in the UK, I was able to quickly get up and running, and I would like to sincerely thanks all my good friends who helped and offered help during the months of lockdown, your kind assistance, advice etc will never be forgotten.
During the months of lockdown to begin with I was unable to travel to the Little Owl hide, as it was just over 5 miles from home but I did start to visit as we were keen to see were the Owls were up to in the breeding process, to get in with the camera, and be ready for when lockdown ended for Customers to start using the hide. Once we opened the hide once again lots of delighted guests got some amazing images of the Owls. sadly this year the youngsters for whatever reason didn’t make it to the hide, looking very much like they were predated. But as I type the male is still visiting the hide, and hopefully soon I will be doing evening sessions.
My first workshop post lockdown came in late July, and was one I look forward to every year, so I was mighty relieved that we were able to travel north to The Cairngorms for my Osprey Workshop. My Guests and myself were based at the magnificent Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-On-Spey, the best Hotel to be based at, and a place and people I just love working with throughout the year. Indeed I had travelled up a week earlier than the guests to work with the Hotel leading a group of guests with the BBC’s Mike Dilger, lots of great fun, and took me to a lot of places I have not visited.
The Cairngorms National Park is the ancestral home of the Osprey in the UK, and by using the incredible facilties at my good friend Gordon McLeods wee lochan in Aviemore and Rothiemurchas Fishery it really puts the guests in the best place to photograph diving Ospreys. And despite the changeable conditions and a few quiet spells, the trip was a great success with some amazing images taken home by each guest. And a morning trip to Neil McIntyres Red Squirrel hide, was a nice alternative to the Ospreys, and again lots of great Squirrel images were taken.
Sadly my Diving Gannet trip late August was cancelled due to the weather, again really frustrating, the constraints of lockdown are relaxed and so the good old British weather does its best to cause more issues, but a new date is now planned for 2021.
Earlier this year I visited Gauntlet Birds of Prey in Knutsford, Cheshire, with a view to arranging some workshops with them. I was blown away by the set up there, the birds are in fantastic condition, and I was super interested in all the work they do in Vulture conservation. Again lockdown came and it was all on hold, but in mid August I revisited, met Graham again who owns the place and spent some time photographing the birds ahead of workshops we planned in October and November.
Then at the end of August I travelled up to the Inner Hebrides, to my favourite Isle of Mull, firstly to spend some time photographing Sea eagles and otters myself, then welcoming a group of guests for my Sea Eagle Workshop. The days leading up to the workshop were fantastic, with some brilliant Sea Eagle action whilst I was out on Lady Jayne, expertly skippered by my good friends Martin and Alex of Mull Charters. Then I spent an amazing morning photographing an Otter down on Loch Spelve.
Then for the weekend I welcomed a great Group for 6 hours out on the boat on Saturday and 3 hours on the Sunday morning. Starting at 10am on the Saturday the Sea Eagle action was fast and furious from the off as we entered Loch Na Keal, and so it continued right through until we finished on Sunday lunchtime, with all the Group getting some beautiful images of the UK’s biggest bird of prey.
No sooner was I back home from Mull than I was back in the Van and heading north of the border again, this time to my great friend Alan McFadyens Scottish Photography Hides, in the beautiful Galloway countryside, for my latest workshop. This was a workshop that we had only put together 3 weeks previous, but such is the attraction of these workshops now it booked up very quickly. Once again it was an amazing weekend for the group of guests, evening sessions to photograph Badger, Pine Marten and Tawny Owl were really great, and a couple of days in Alans refurbished Woodland Sparrowhawk hide was very good.
BUT I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD, AND THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO OFFER SO FAR FOR 2020/21
Red Deer Rut Workshops
Various dates during October, some are now fully booked, but check out my website for availability.
Spend the day wandering a beautiful Cheshire Estate Park photographing the Red Deer during their annual Rut.
https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/red-deer-rut-workshop/
Red Squirrel Workshop
Saturday 24th or Sunday 25th October
Located in a beautiful woodland near Hawes in North Yorkshire
Full details on my website, link below
https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/red-squirrel-photography-workshop/
Gauntlet Birds of Prey Workshop
Saturday 7th November
Located just outside Knutsford, Cheshire, a day of photographing the stunning birds of prey at the Centre, both static and flight shots.
Full details on my website https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/bird-of-prey-workshop/
Buzzard Workshop
Friday 13th, Saturday 14th or Sunday 15th November
Located near Kirkcudbright, Galloway, Southern Scotland
A full day in the Buzzard hide photographing Buzzards feeding on a deer carcass
Full details on the website https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/buzzard-hide-workshop/
Scottish Photography Hides Winter Workshop
Saturday 16th – Sunday 17th January 2021
Located in Galloway, Southern Scotland
A weekend of photographing such species as Kingfisher, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Pine Marten, Tawny Owl and much more
Full details on my website https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/scottish-photography-hides-winter-workshop-weekend-2/
Cairngorms Winter Workshop
13-17th February 2021 …. only 2 places remaining
Based at the fabulous Grant Arms Hotel, a truly wonderful trip photographing Scotland’s iconic winter wildlife
Full details below on my website
https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/scottish-highlands-winter-workshop/
Scottish Osprey Workshops 2021
1-5th May, 17-21st July, 21-25th July 2021 ……. Only places available for the May dates
based at the fabulous Grant Arms Hotel, focusing on Osprey photography at specialist hides in Aviemore, plus Red Squirel photography from a hide in Rothiemurchas Forest.
Full details on my website https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/scottish-osprey-workshops-2021/
Diving Gannet Workshop
Saturday 26th June 2021
one of my most popular trips, photographing Gannets diving from a boat, off Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire coast.
Full details here on my website https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/diving-gannets-workshop/
The Sea Eagles of the Isle of Mull
Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th August
Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd August
A weekend of photographing the biggest bird in the UK, a magnificent boat trip off the stunning west coast of Mull.
Full details here on my website https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/white-tailed-eagle-workshops-2020/
Workshops and trips are frequently being added to my website, just check in at https://gjwp.co.uk/workshops/ for all the latest available.
Many thanks for taking a look at my latest post, you can keep up to date with my adventures on all my Social media platforms by searching Gary Jones Wildlife Photography
Bye for now, and happy clicking
Gary