Getting Closer to Wildlife
I recently visited Mercer Falconry, a perfect Father's Day gift from my son! It was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Getting up close to a Barn Owl, a Eurasian Eagle Owl and a Common Kestrel was a brilliant reminder of just how incredible these birds are when you see them up close.
Cerys was an absolute star. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly and a great host, she made the whole experience both enjoyable and informative. You could tell there was a genuine passion for the birds, which made the experience even better.
From a photography perspective, this was also a really useful opportunity to practise some of the things that can be tricky when photographing wildlife. Tracking a moving subject, keeping focus where it needs to be, working with changing positions and, perhaps most importantly, trying to anticipate what the bird might do next.
Of course, this isn't quite the same as photographing wildlife in the wild. You don't have the unpredictability of suddenly spotting a bird in its natural environment, and the conditions are very different. But that doesn't make the practice any less valuable.
Sometimes you just need the chance to focus on the photography itself — following the subject, understanding its behaviour, and trying to capture that moment rather than worrying about whether you'll even get the shot.
And let's be honest, standing a few feet away from a Barn Owl or watching a Eurasian Eagle Owl fly past you with a camera in your hands isn't exactly a bad way to spend an afternoon!
If you're into photography, birds of prey, or simply fancy trying something a little different, I'd really recommend visiting Mercer Falconry. You might even come away with a few photographs you're rather pleased with.
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