Hen Harrier photography

[vinnychameleon]

Hi guys in a few days time I am planning to take my christmas present (Panasonic DMC FZ7) up the moors to see if I can get any photos of any wintering hen harriers anybody got any tips or tricks

[Boddie]

I hope the weather improves some. The lighting here is poor and the long lens struggles. I could really use some decent light as am itching to get out again. The local park is not yielding too much and I fancy Norfolk but the weather looks poor now til NYE

[JeffH]

Are there many "up on the moors" at this time of year? I know they breed there but aren't most winter Hen Harrier roosts down in the lowlands? For instance, I know they used to roost in large numbers here at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire every winter.

Good luck with the new gear anyway VC.

[GuyF]

I got a bird photography book for christmas. Its got loads of useful tips and techniques. If you have the time you could try regularly baiting because apparently in bad weather Hen Harriers will take bait, and if that fails you should atleast get a very good opportunity to photograph buzzards and crows.

[vinnychameleon]

Cheers guys and Jeff I know somewhere where there are some on the moor at winter so will be heading there

[leon-b]

whats "baiting", do you lay some food down for the birds of prey ?
leon

[Brian Phipps]

Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve has a Hen Harrier roost, they don`t come too close for photography though, well not when I`ve been there.

But its nice to see thats for sure.

Blacktoft Sands - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Brian

[GuyF]

Baiting is when you leave out some meat and then set up a hide near it so you can attract birds of prey. Hope that helps.
Guy

[leon-b]

yes that explains it, do these hides tend to be made of wood, or are they just a temporary thing ?
sorry to hijack the thread
leon

[GuyF]

Mostly they are temporary things quite like tents, but sometimes people do put up wooden ones.

[leon-b]

thanks im thinking of putting up a small one in the local woods using an old tarp or something simular
leon