Little Owl Workshop - CLOSED FOR BOOKINGS
Pete has moved to the Highlands of Scotland now, so cannot run workshops with the little owls any more.
He does offer workshops in the Highlands and also on Mull. Please email him if either of these are of interest to you.
Little Owl In Flight
Join Pete Walkden for a day of little owl photography at his Little Owl Workshop. Pete has been photographing these wild little owls now for several years, and has enjoyed success with getting images of the owls in flight, running around on the barn roof, and posing on various perches around the farm.
Once booked for a workshop day, you will have exclusive access to the owls, with Pete at hand to help set up images, and encourage the owls out for you, during a fun-filled, informative and productive session.
WORKSHOPS ARE UNAVAILABLE TO BOOK
Workshops available to book from June until October. Please complete the Booking Form below or email Pete.
The day is a workshop, not a "hide day" so Pete will be with you throughout the session, and will offer advice on images to try for and settings on your camera, set up perches for you, and also help encourage the owls to perform!
This enables you to concentrate on getting the shots, and not risk spooking the owls as you set things up or miss a shot when the owl arrives before you're ready!
Early in the season, when the chicks have hatched, the adults are busy collecting food for them, so will come down to the perches frequently. This is a good time to try for flight and running images, featuring the adult owls.
There is no fixed hide on site - you will be sat in your car (because of the Covid-19 pandemic), so it can be moved around to best suit the light direction, the image you're after, a specific perch, or how close you need to be, based on your lens' reach.
The grassy ground around the barn has recently been turned into a flat, gravel-covered parking area.
As the roof is relatively low, the angle of it allows for shots of the owls as they run about on it from the comfort of your car seat.
Late in September or possibly early October, the fledged owlets, now almost identical in terms of appearance to the adults, will leave the nest area to establish their own territories, and this is normally when the workshop season draws to a close, though the adult may still come down for much of October and even into November, though typically for shorter workshops (half day sessions).
The farm is in Worcestershire, not far from junction 3 of the M42. Precise directions will be provided after payment is received.
This is a working farm, and the farmer makes a living from various activities. As the project is near the entrance of the farm, there will be disturbance from visitors to the farm, farmworkers, and the farmer himself.
Fortunately, the owls are fairly used to such issues, and aren't normally bothered by the people.
But remember, the owls are wild, not tame, so there is always the chance that they might not perform.
Most of Pete's images from the site have been taken with a full frame camera and 500mm prime lens. If you have a cropped sensor camera and a 300 or 400mm lens, you should be fine.
Equipment Checklist
Price
| Duration | Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Half Day | 1 to 1 | £125 |
| Half Day | 1 to 2 | £150 |
| Full Day | 1 to 1 | £200 |
| Full Day | 1 to 2 | £250 |
2019 Gallery
2018 Gallery
2017 Gallery
2016 Gallery
FAQ
As Pete will be in attendance for the workshop, he will be able to determine whether your session has been a success, or if the owls have played hard-to-get. In such a case, Pete may offer another workshop at a discounted rate at his discretion, or if you are on a half day workshop, it might be extended in the hope of some better luck.
It varies, but usually they are active throughout the whole day, with maybe an hour or so when they might take a rest, either out of sight in the barn, or perched up in one of the trees.
When the young are being fed, the adult owls might be busy all day.
Most clients typically take between 300 and 1000 images per workshop, depending on the sort of images desired from the session.
Typically on a hide day, you are met by someone responsible for the site, not necessarily a photographer, who instructs you on what you can and cannot do for the day. You're given food and perches, and left to your own devices for the session. You may also be sharing the hide with several other people who have also booked it for that day.
When you book a workshop with Pete, unless you book it with a friend, then the session is for you only. No-one else will be there, so you have exclusive access to the site.
Pete is a professional wildlife photographer, with numerous years experience of getting images, and has also set up the little owl workshop site. Hence he is aware of what skills and settings are required to get certain images, and is at hand to offer advice throughout the session.
He is also there to set the site and shots up for you, so all you need to be concerned about is getting the images you desire. He will rig up perches and put out the food for the owls. This should enable you to maximise opportunities to take shots, not missing any should the owl fly down to the perch before you're ready to take the shot (which they do to Pete when he's alone with them, quite a lot!).
Neil C
On meeting Pete he was keen to share his knowledge of the wild little owls, advising and sharing tips to ensure I went home with some action shots I craved.
As a newbie to Nikon kit Pete was on hand to assist with camera settings, that did help me be as prepared as possible for the moment they swooped down from the adjacent Oak Tree. Below is one of my pictures I captured, so with this I’d like to say anyone interested in Little Owl photography go for it! You won’t be disappointed
Gary M
Thanks again for a fab day with little owls just about sorted 100 pics out to keep and will narrow that down again soon. One pic up on Flickr and I've put a link to your web site hope that's ok?
Cheers,
Gary
Joss M
We both had a lovely time and I'm grateful to you for being flexible. Magnus has just posted some of the images on flickr - he found it hard to choose! He has credited you on these images - is that OK?
Let me know your thoughts. Thanks again, I am sure we will keep in touch.
Best wishes
Joss
Ruth R
Plane an hour late and a bit bumpy, but home now with lovely memories of a special day. I couldn’t believe how close we could get to the owls, and that they weren’t bothered by our presence at all….I loved the piercing glare through the windscreen at the tub of worms!
I have about 500 images to plough through now, one or two might be ok; but its only looking at them now that I wish I could come back today and try other ideas with them -guess it will have to wait for next year.
Thank you so much for your chauffeuring, ham-roll-making,kindness,patience and insults! I really appreciate the extra effort. Lovely to see you and catch up a bit too.
Best wishes
Ruth
Julie H
Thanks for this - & for an absolutely brilliant day today. I am thrilled with my images - & just seeing them all strutting their stuff along the roof....!
All the best,
Julie
