A true bird photogrpaphy tour, aiming at low angle photography of wetland birds
Autumn Wetland Birds
Wednesday 2nd - Wednesday 9th August 2023
Via Pontica is the second biggest bird migration
route in Europe. The four big lakes around Burgas are its bottleneck and
the birds concentrate here in their thousands to rest and feed before
continue north. Others will breed, occupying their former territories
and all that forms a very dynamic atmosphere which brings the emotion of
photographing the true wildlife photography. Within this tour there is
no bird feeding or any other kind of attracting them to us, neither a
comfort nor not much is guaranteed, but all is knowledge, strategy and
selection of the right places depending on the water level, a lot of
patience and a bit of luck of course. What the true wildlife photography
is. Something what you can hardly find nowadays, with over a thousand
specially prepared hides for wildlife photography in Europe many
photographers are now saying it all feels like in a zoo.
That is
why we have designed that tour, it is for keen photographers ready to
lie down on the ground before the sunrise and wait for the chance for
the perfect low angle shot. It is everything or nothing. However, it is
not going to be nothing, at all as there will be numerous birds around!
Waders are everywhere - sandpipers, stints, stints, avocets, godwits,
pratincoles, snipes etc; ducks, egrets and ibises, terns and passerines -
wagtails of various races. All these will be in breeding plumage and we
expect to get some of the more attractive European species - Curlew
Sandpaiper, Spotted Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper,
Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincoles, also Garganey, Ferruginous
Duck, Little Turn etc. with some luck we may get Marsh Sandpiper, Ruddy
Shelduck etc.
Not only the species are attractive but we are also
aiming in interesting action shot of their behavior - feeding, mating,
etc, and as they are fresh and the background is clear, some excellent
shots are to be taken. There will be plenty of options for backlit
photography. To achieve all that we will be using the low angle
technique - a difficult and tiring one, but the reward could be great.
It means we will simply lay down on the ground, using an isomatic to
provide some comfort, a bean bag for the gear and cammo net to cover
ourselves. We will be using sites right at the edge of the wetlands,
mainly saltpans where the birds congregate in numbers to feed and roost.
It needs to be early in the morning - 5 a.m. and we will be at the site
till 10 a.m. or so when the light is getting harsh. Siesta will follow,
then an evening session again. In case of overcast weather we may
continue but it is a tiring job so siesta is best to have in the middle.
You need to be physically and mentally prepared to lay down for a
number of hours, at least 3 or 4 hours.
There are two reasons for it
- it is the only way to get level with the bird, the perfect angle for
the subject and in the same time it gives you perfectly blurred
unicolored background. The other reasons is that using proper hides it
simply does not work - first it gives you a different angle and pictures
will be nothing like it, second, as the wetlands and the salt pans are
large open water bodies without any obstacles and objects a single hide,
standing up always make the birds warry and they avoid it, keeping
quite a distance. Shortly, the low angle photography is one of the last
not developed ways of photographing the birds in Europe, simply because
it is not easy, it is difficult, not predictable and needs efforts. The
golden hours are between 6 and 8 a.m. and between 6 and 8.30 p.m. In the
morning we need to be there earlier however, before the birds so when
they arrive, we will be already there which makes it easier to be
accepted. We will of course be using and doom hides and tripods for
sites where tersn etc feed so this can not only take off the pressure
and make it a bit more relaxing but also provide opportunities for other
species - Penduline Tit, pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrival at Burgas airport and short transfer to the hotel, our only
base for the tour. Time providing we will visit some of the sites in
order to become familiar with the area. Accommodation for 7 nights and
dinner, afterwards we will be discussing the plan for the next days and
our leaders will tell you what they think will be the best strategy. The
hotel is perfectly situated, between Pomorie Lake and the Black Sea.
Days 2 to 7
Same routine with early starts and late sessions, with siesta in the
middle of the day. Dinner will be before 5 or after 9 p.m. We will be
working in all the Burgas wetlands - the four big lakes and few small
wetlands around them. Depends on the water levels we will be visiting
some of the sites more often than others. The group size will be 2 or 3
photographers with one leader and in case of 4 to 6 we will split into 2
groups with 2 leaders. This is the maximum number as more than three
photographers at the site make it complicated for the leaders to manage,
as the space at some of the sites is limited plus more photographers
will scare the birds away easier. Additionally, everybody will have more
or less different pictures as even the smallest angle gives a different
perspective. Even some of the best hides in Europe has been blamed for
providing identical photos for numerous photographers.
Day 8 Last morning session followed by siesta and transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Equipment: Lenses of 300 mm and more, even 800 mm is fine. Convertors will be handy, plus enough batteries. Tripod is must.
TOUR MAP: