Waterfowl Photography Workshop

Waterfowl Wildlife Photography Workshop –  Peak District National Park

Join me on a waterfowl photography workshop for an amazing opportunity to photograph a wide variety of water birds on the edge of the stunning Peak District National Park.

About British Waterfowl

The British Isles are home to some of the most interesting and varied waterfowl in the world. Various introduced species such as the colourful mandarin ducks have met with our iconic native species to form an incredibly diverse and photogenic selection. 

Female Goldeneye displaying on a small inland lake, Winter UK. Lying at water level for several hours is not the most comfortable activity but well worth it to get right down to eye level with the birds and minimise distractions. Coot showing off its huge scaly feet whilst preening. Here the fresh Spring daisies created a surrounding bokeh., Winter UK.  More About the Coot Coots are members of the rail family (Rallidae). In the UK this family also includes Moorhens, Water Rails, Corncrakes and Spotted Crakes. Most rails are very secretive and elusive and spend their time in dense vegetation such as reedbeds, communicating with one another via sharp calls, howvwer Coots are generally seen much more regularly foraging in the open. Both male and female coots are black with a white beak and crest and very distinctive scaly feet. More information onCoot on a small inland lake, Spring UK. Lying at water level for several hours is not the most comfortable activity but well worth it to get right down to eye level with the birds and minimise distractions. 

Fitness difficulty:

Easy

Short walks along mostly flat ground.

 

Availability:

Year Round

January

December

Available All Year.

Pricing

6

Full Day Workshop

6 hours // £80 deposit

£220

1-2-1 Workshop

£180

1-2 Workshop (per participant)

4

4 hours // £60 deposit

£155

1-2-1 Workshop

£120

1-2 Workshop (per participant)

Reduced or extended workshops are available on request.

Striking male Smew backlit by the the last rays of afternoon light. Winter, UK. Smews visit Britain in small numbers over winter from the continent and are typically found on small inland lakes and rivers and along our extensive coastline.
Teal drake, in late afternoon sunshine. Here the reflected background matched the reddish head of the teal perfectly. This image was taken on a small pond in a busy park. Being surrounded by so many people meant the birds were very habituated and provided some great opportunities. Over the winter months I spent some time with a group of Teal that appeared on a duck pond. Although there is a small breeding population of native teal, many of the birds seen in winter journey here from around the Baltic and Siberia.

What Do My Guests Think?

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Thank you for the great workshop yesterday I learnt soo much. Haven’t yet started on the post processing but can’t wait to get stuck into that also. I feel much better equipped to approach Landscapes doing the scenes the justice they deserve.

 

View more testimonials

What Can You expect?

This workshop offers a huge variety of birds to photograph, from exotic introduced species to iconic and rare native species such as eider ducks, smew and northern pintail, this workshop offers an incredible opportunity to fill your waterfowl portfolio throughout the day.

From close up detailed portraits to environmental and behavioural images my wildlife photography workshops will show you how to capture a stunning portfolio of images of a wide range of subjects.

I will teach you the essential fieldcraft and technical skills needed to get close without causing disturbance. I will also explain how to recognise different behaviours and habits so that you leave with a much better understanding of the wildlife.

Throughout the day we may have the opportunity to photograph a huge range of waterfowl including great crested grebes, mandarin ducks, wood ducks, red crested pochard, smew, eider ducks, northern pintail, egyptian geese and much much more!

Recommended equipment

  • A 200mm – 500mm lens is ideal (or equivalent on crop/bridge camera).
  • Due to the low angles we may be shooting at, a beanbag is advised.
  • There may also be opportunities for extreme close up photography, so a wide angle or standard zoom lens and a sturdy tripod are recommended.

Additional information

  • Camouflage is not essential for this workshop.
  • Wellies or waterproof walking boots are essential and waterproof clothing is strongly recommended.

Please visit the FAQ’s section for more information on what to bring.

Waterfowl Photography Workshop
Male Common Pochard on a small inland lake, Winter, Derbyshire UK. Lying at water level for several hours is not the most comfortable activity but well worth it to get right down to eye level with the birds and minimise distractions.