Howard Ashton-Jones 26/07/2020 Howard Ashton-Jones 26/07/2020

Wildlife Adventures 2020 - February

Otters on the Isle of Bute

My favourite animal I think.. its been such a challenge to photograph them over the past few years, learning where they are, and the very important fieldcraft in order to successfully capture good shots of them without disturbing them. I’ve been back and forth to Bute over 5 times in the previous 18 months, trying to locate an active site. Finally found them, where I first started looking for them, (thanks to John Williams, Isle of Bute) for the information and the sites..

I spent a couple of mornings with this family - almost always at the same spot so was nice and easy to locate them . Just had to stay ahead of them and was very lucky to get them come ashore - about 20 feet away from me to clean up and chill out. Click on images to get full sized.

Great fun and exciting hunting for them then a mad rush along with luck to get in front of them at the right spot - get in touch if you want to book a 1-1 workshop on these wonderful creatures Wee video just below to show some close ups.

Mountain Hares -

One of Scotlands most iconic creatures - the Mountain hare - It It is most common on high up heathlands. They are renowned for turning white in winter to match their upland surroundings.

We travelled up past Aviemore for a secret site that I had been told about - (when we got there it was packed with photogprahers all making their way on the long slog up the hill so not so secret). We filmed a fair bit of this trip see below - thanks to Murray for the genius filming.. and Elaine for the naturalist work and talking bits (I’m not confident enough yet for this)

Click on images to get full sized. Give me shout if you are keen to do 1-1 trip up north for these wonderful and difficult to spot hares (now protected)