Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel in forest clearing

Dates: All year

Cost: £75 per person (max 3)

Location: near Carrbridge, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Typical session: 0800 to 1300

Level of fitness: Easy: a short walk on a woodland path. The hide is not heated and has limited room to move around.

Required lens: 300 - 500mm range is most appropriate although a shorter lens will enable more of the habitat to be included. A fast lens (e.g. f/4) will help in low light.

What to expect: Red squirrel photography is from a sunken wooden hide in a clearing in a pine woodland setting with natural props and an attractive background. The hide accommodates 3 people and allows low level shooting. There is a solid shelf where you can place a bean bag or two if you wish to shoot with different lenses. It is also possible to use a tripod. An alternative hide at a woodland pool is also available (1 person only) where you can photograph red squirrels with reflections and also drinking. In frosty conditions the pond will be frozen so please be aware of this when booking.

There are typically around 3-6 red squirrels visiting the feeding station where they are baited with hazelnuts. Activity is greatest during the morning but this can vary with the weather conditions. Activity can tail off for short periods of time but the squirrels typically return for further feeding and caching later in the session. During a morning session you can expect a good number of visits providing plenty of opportunities for portraits and action shots including jumping if there is sufficient light to obtain the necessary high shutter speeds. During busy periods of activity several squirrels may be present, which results in chasing and territorial behaviour. The squirrels divide their time between feeding in situ on the various props and caching nuts. During periods of caching an individual may return many times to collect nuts and bury them in the surrounding forest. Frost and snow are common during the winter months but can never be guaranteed of course!
 

Red Squirrel in flowering heather

Dates: 14th August - 4th September

Cost: £75 per person (max 3)

Location: near Carrbridge, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Typical session: 0800 to 1300 

Level of fitness: Easy: a short walk on a woodland path. The hide is not heated and has limited room to move around.

Required lens: 300 - 500mm range is most appropriate although a shorter lens will enable more of the habitat to be included.

What to expect: During August, The Highlands puts on its final floral display of the year as the moors and forest clearings come alive with purple flowering heather. This vibrant show of colour provides the perfect backdrop to photograph Red Squirrels at a long-established feeding station in a pine forest setting. Photography is from a permanent wooden hide that is sunk into the ground to provide low level shots with colourful foregrounds and backgrounds. From the hide it’s possible to capture a range of images of these photogenic mammals running, jumping and posing amongst the heather.

The squirrels are most active during the morning and make regular visits to collect and feed on hazelnuts placed on photogenic stumps and logs. The light levels at this time of year should be good allowing you to use fast shutter speeds to capture high action shots of the squirrels running and jumping. During busy periods of activity several squirrels may be present, which results in chasing and territorial behaviour. The squirrels divide their time between feeding in situ on the various props and caching nuts. During periods of caching an individual may return mnay times or more to collect nuts and bury them in the surrounding forest. This provides great opportunities to photograph squirrels running along logs and jumping.

Red Squirrel at woodland pool

Dates: All year but pool may be frozen during winter

Cost: £75 per person (max 1)

Location: near Carrbridge, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Typical session: 0800 to 1300 (other times available on request)

Level of fitness: Easy: a short walk on a woodland path. The hide is not heated and has limited room to move around.

Required lens: 200 - 400mm range is most appropriate.

What to expect: A small pool has been constructed in an open area of the forest. Photography is from a small permanent wooden hide that is sunk into the ground to provide low level shots and reflections of the squirrels at the far end of the pool. The hide has a solid woodne shelf to place a bean bag to support the lens. The window opening provides excellent views of the squirrels and the forest habitat to ensure you don't miss a thing. A seat is provided.

The squirrels (typically between 2-6) are most active during the morning and make regular visits to collect and feed on hazelnuts placed on props near the pool and close to the water's edge. The squirrels divide their time between feeding in situ on the various props and caching nuts in the surrounding forest. It is possible to photogrpah the squirrels as they make their way down nearby trees and search for nuts. Whilst obtaining images of the squirrels reflected in the pool is a priority, other images of them posing on natural props nearby is also possible. The low level hide provides  the perfect viewpoint for photography along with an attractive out of foucs background.

Lighting is generally subdued as the pool is partially shaded by trees. During April the pool is very attractively backlit for a short period early in the morning.