Polecat, beech and pine marten, badger and a range of woodland birds are our principle targets on this expert-led small group photography trip to The Netherlands.
During the day, likely woodland bird species include great-spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, jay, coal, blue, great and long-tailed tits and with luck, hawfinch.
The hide is equipped with mirrored glass, powerful lighting, a reflection pool and strategically positioned logs, allowing plenty of photographic opportunities for when our mustelid subjects arrive. With exclusive use of the hide throughout our stay, we have the option to come and go as we please and there's scope to split the group if needed.
If you’re looking for an action-packed short photography break, offering the chance to photograph some rarely seen mammal species, all under the expert guidance of a Wildlife Worldwide Photographic leader, then look no further!
Typical Itinerary
-
Day 1:
Fly to Amsterdam, transfer to hotel & evening hide session
Upon our arrival in Amsterdam, we pick up a minibus and drive for approximately two hours to Buitengoed Fredeshiem Hotel, where we check in and enjoy an early dinner.
After dinner, we drive the short distance to Edotopia Nature Reserve and spend our first evening in the hide. We have use of the hide for the entire night, and we can leave when we want (or even spend the entire night). The hide has a toilet, tea and coffee-making facilities and a bunk bed, should you need a nap!
Over the course of the evening we hope to photograph polecat, beech and pine marten, and badger. These species all have different eating habits and typically avoid feeding at the same time. With a little time it's possible to recognise where the animals are likely to approach from and what food they will target, enabling you to be in position, ready to shoot.
The tour leader is on hand to assist with settings and with luck, we should have plenty of opportunity to experiment with different angles and styles.
Accommodation: Buitengoed Fredeshiem Hotel, 2-nights
-
Day 2:
Full day in the hide
After enjoying breakfast in the comfort of the hotel, we return to Edotopia Nature Reserve for a full day's use of the hide. During the hours of daylight, we turn our attention to an entirely different cast, as the forest's avian residents take centre stage.
At times, the activity can be quite frantic, particularly on cooler days, and there should be plenty of opportunities to practice a range of techniques and capture an array of images.
With an excellent grocery store in Vledder, we are likely to purchase our lunch here, ensuring that we can maximise our time in the hide. With the on-site facilities and complimentary tea/coffee, we can enjoy our photography session in relative comfort.
In the evening, before dusk, we head to a local restaurant and enjoy a cooked dinner, before returning to the hide for our final night session. We have another chance to focus our efforts on the mustelids, hoping to see any of the four species we may have missed the day before. Again, there's the opportunity to stay as long as we want, returning to the comfort of the hotel when everyone has had their fill, or potentially even splitting the group, if necessary.
-
Day 3:
Morning hide
Following breakfast at the hotel, we have one last session in the hide this morning. As per the previous day, our focus during this time is the woodland birds, enabling us a final opportunity to add to our portfolio from this fabulous location.
We then hop in the minibus and make our way back to Amsterdam, for our flight back to the UK.
.webp)
