Winter Wonderland

We have had a beautiful winter so far with loads of snow and ice. Ofcourse these are hard times for birds and they have to head out further from there regular feeding grounds in order to find food. For us nature photographers a great time to look for birds and other wildlife as they are more easy to get close to then usual.







In winter times i always host my 1:1 winter workshops wich means i take a fellow photographer with me in my car and we drive around my local patch to look for wildlife or we head out to a certain area to look for birds and wildlife with the main aim at winter visitors and scarce species. Last friday i had another one of those workshops and took fellow photographer Dennis Martens out to our southern province of Zeeland which is well known for its winter waterfowl and waders.







There is always plenty of wildlife around during these harsh and cold days. From White-fronted Geese to Tufted Ducks and from Eurasian Wigeons to Hen Harriers it is a joy to be out even if my fingers freeze off..










Besides these lovely birds we where very pleased to also have a chance at what was a mystery bird to me so far as i could never get a decent shot...the Short-eared Owl. A beautiful Owl species wich is very scarce to our country.



Besides the Short-eared Owl there was another bird high on my wishlist..
This Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) wich is largely nocturnal, spending most of the day in dense cover.Their camouflage is one of the best i have ever seen in the animal kingdom and even now it is not easy to find them so i was very glad to come across this beauty.



Another thing i like about winter time is that low warm sunlight that lights up the wildlife in a very warm and gorgeous setting.







And some more images from the recent trips out into "Winter Wonderland"...










If you are interested in a 1:1 tuition workshop like this one or in one of the other workshops just send me an e-mail for information to: info@jeroenstel.com

Wildlife of the Peaks Workshops

I have mentioned a co-operation with UK based nature photographer Craig Jones before and we have now set up diverse workshops together starting February next called "Wildlife of the Peaks". For more information on Craig Jones see: http://www.craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk/blog/
These will be a 3 day workshops which i will co-host with Craig and he will take us to some of the best possible locations in the English Peak District.





The heaths and moors of the peak district are an eerie exposure of peat covered moorland sitting about 600m (2000 ft) above sea level. Large wind carved eroded rocks sit among vast plateaus and rock formations supporting a healthy population of Red Grouse. These iconic moorland birds make their home on these moors and are reliant on their camouflaged plumage to blend in to this habitat. They feed on the tender shoots of the heather that cover the majority of the moorland, and at certain times of the year the heather forms a pink blanket of colour. These 3 day workshops will run all year and we will take you to those places Craig has found over time, to be some of the best places to see and photograph diverse beautiful birds such as Red Grouse, Dipper, Barn Owl but besides birds there will also be a possibility to photograph Snow Hares.




If you are interested in joining us on this special workshop you can get more information by e-mailing me at: info@jeroenstel.com




Additional Information

The weather in the Peak District is a mixture of mist, fog, rain and sunshine, and during winter month’s also snow, so appropriate waterproof clothing is necessary. A little walking will be involved so walking boots are also needed. Water proof housing and lens covers are a must as rain can be upon you in minutes.
Recommended Kit

You will need to provide your own photographic equipment, a 500mm lens is ideal but a 300mm with convertors should meet your needs A tripod is also essential. The landscape of the Peak District will present you with many opportunities so if you have a wide angle lens then this would also give you a chance to capture some beautiful landscape images.

All images by Craig Jones wildlife photography