The Hide

The hide seats four people, plates are fitted to take tripod heads or beanbags are available if required.  The hide is also heated and has an internet connection if required and toilet facilities are available.

The birds are 12 – 16 feet from the camera on multiple setups including a reflection pool

Some of the birds visiting are, great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, Eurasian jay, treecreeper, common redpoll, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, long-tailed tit (in winter), dunnock, goldfinch, Robin, pheasant, collared dove, occasionally Sparrowhawk, occasionally spotted flycatcher, blackbird, tree sparrow, the house sparrow. brambling. grey wagtail

We will be looking at exposure and exposure compensation, the use of shutter speed and ISO setting in relation to shutter speeds and aperture settings along with white balance setting and the use of Kelvin

The birds are very close and exceptionally good images can be expected with great backgrounds.

Toilet facilities available

Testimonials

Hi Ron

Thank you for another great morning of photography, I had a brilliant time seeing so many birds come to the garden to have their photo taken. The time goes by so fast, I could have stayed for a week and still thought ‘just another hour!’ 

I’m just going through the 3 million photos I took and enjoying the process as there is such a variety of birds.

I imagine I’ll see you again very soon, and maybe I’ll get the shot I just missed of the blackbirds fighting. Meantime take care.

Linda McDermott……… March 2023

 

 

Ron, 

Ron,
Thank you so much for yesterday I had such a lovely time and learnt lots of little nuggets of information to help me with my photography.  I’ve ordered a remote control and another couple of sd cards with the idea of not formatting my cards until I know I have the photos!
I realised I had set the camera to manual shooting instead of manual focus, but now that I know how to do it properly it will be very useful when using a tripod and focused on one area. I’ve been finding out about kelvin and how to set it and I also know to keep my camera on silent to keep the count down, as I said lots of nuggets!
I really enjoyed hearing about your travels and wildlife stories over some excellent coffee and I will always remember where I saw my first brambling, be it just the upper body but I hope it has come back with the others for you today and you’ve got some lovely shots to add to your portfolio.

Lynda McDermott………………..Hawick Scottish Borders

Ron

Thank you for a brilliant morning. I learnt more from you than all the online courses I’ve done I’ll definitely be back. For any female photographers feeling nervous I have to say that the safe welcome given by you and Lynne was just so reassuring. Thank you so so much

Shona Finlayson ………Bigger

Ron

Myself and Jim spent a very enjoyable few hours in the company of Ron at his hide this morning. Great set-up with a huge variety of photo opportunities. Lots of helpful pointers and great photography and wildlife chat not to mention first-class coffee. Would certainly recommend it to others and will be returning soon to try out the badger hide. 

William Stuart with Jim Flynn ……… Livingstone

Hi Ron

Just a thank you for the wonderful time my brother Derek and I spent in your hide recently. Wonderful setup, great advice and stories and the coffee were worth the trip alone. We highly recommend anyone interested in bird photography to visit the hide. We will be booking the Badger hide soon and look forward to seeing you again.

Ronnie Shephard……….

Hi Ron

Had a great photography session today with Ron in the garden hide. The weather was awful but the welcome was warm. The hide was comfortable and the range of birds was nothing short of spectacular, got some great shots, Ron even helped me with my camera settings which for someone like me was a real benefit. Highly recommended, looking forward to my next visit.

Many thanks

Steve Long…….

Hi Ron,

An email to let you know how very much I enjoyed yesterday morning at Tower Cottage. I have never been in such a luxury hide before, with heating and a supply of coffee and biscuits, and your most excellent company as mine host! Very pleased with some of my nuthatch shots — it is over seven years since my “early period” with nuthatches in Fairmilehead and I am pleased to report, albeit somewhat immodestly, that I can see a great improvement in the results.

I greatly appreciated your quiet understated educational approach, in relation for instance to the business of moving the single focus point in relation to the size and posture of the bird, and being sure of how to do it quickly. Seems so simple and obvious with hindsight, but…………………. Kelvin too is a new addition to my armamentarium, so after today I shall feel a little less like “just a birder with a camera”.

Peter Thompson…………….Musselburgh

“Many thanks for a great morning. I’ll certainly be back this spring”

Jim Black….. Paisley

“Just wanted to thank you and Lynn for the most lovely day yesterday. It was a real delight to be welcomed to your home and a day I will treasure. When we walked to the hide I just couldn’t believe the cacophony of bird song I could hear in the trees. I knew then I was in for a real treat!
Not only did I learn so much and got some great tips and advice it was just wonderful to hear about your travels and experiences and see some of your amazing pictures”

Philly Bell ….. Alnwick

“Ron –

Thanks again for the two wonderful mornings at your hide, the group were delighted with the pictures and all keen to repeat the experience, hopefully in February”

Carole Maclaren. North Berwick Photographic Society

Ron 

“Just a wee thank you for running the workshop today – all the “lads” really enjoyed the visit and we certainly plan a return trip next year.  I also got one of the shots I’ve always wanted, goldfinch on the teasel,  with at least at a couple of hundred more to process!

 

Lenses required

Zoom lenses are a good idea, 100 – 400, 150 – 600mm are a good size, Prime lenses 300mm, 400mm, 500mm. The birds are large in the frame with 500mm & 600mm but you get intimate portraits with these larger lenses.

Bridge cameras can be really good at this workshop, a great opportunity to get a video of the birds

Toilet facilities are available

The cost

1 person £60. 2 people £50 per person,  3 and 4 people £40 per person.