Little Owl: Dawn (my wonderful partner) got me an experience day for my birthday, where I could spend the mooring photographing some birds of prey, something I was really looking forward to.
It’s pretty amazing to get so close to birds of prey, which is what you can do at Bridlington Bird of Prey and Animal Park. This family attraction is set in the wonderful woodland near Bridlington, East Yorkshire.
The wide-open space makes it the ideal place to see and learn about a fantastic range of birds of prey. There’s a daily flying display where you can watch these winged wonders soar above your head.
Bridlington Bird of Prey and Animal Park also offer the chance to get even closer to their birds of prey on their bespoke photography sessions, giving you the chance to photography the birds in natural woodland settings with various props.
Their centre is quite unique as most of their birds free fly without tethers or jesses, the owner Paul is very enthusiastic and passionate about his birds and the unique way he trains his birds, often without the use of traditional jessies and ropes.
One of the first birds out was this tiny treasure, this male little owl was very relaxed, despite its shocked expression on its face, little owls are always so photogenic with their large diurnal eyes and expressive faces.
There were many props including an old wheelbarrow, a hagged old wooden stump and a hey bail to name a few. All of which worked well, although the light was very tricky as it was blazing sunshine or the shade of a small woodland, one extreme to another.
European Eagle Owl: Next came this beast, such a smart looking bird. Lee flew it, but with the light being so challenging I couldn't really get any decent pic of it in flight.
Still the bird made an exceptional stationary subject as the birds eyes are just that, exceptional.
European Eagle Owl Chick: Like some small fluffy alien out of Star Wars, maybe a Prog (the penguin like creature from The Last Jedi) this ball of downy-fluffy came bounding out towards us.
I guess being one of the largest living species of owl you are going to get extra large chicks too.
This was Dawns new friend as she fell in love with the little chap, I was almost surprised that she didn't turn around in the car on the way home and say 'look what i have' and pulled it out of her handbag.
Super cute and strange looking.
Peregrine Falcon: They also brought out this brilliantly marked peregrine, however the bird had to remain tethered as with it being breeding season there is a risk the bird might fly off in search of love.....and not come back.
The bird gave me an opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the best birds there is, and to see myself in its eyes while i took its picture was superb.
Despite the tethering I thought some classic images of the bird on this old, used, warn out falconry glove worked real well.
The bird wasn't flown and remained stationary on the glove for only a short time. We also had the opportunity to spend some time with the largest kingfisher species in the world, the kookaburra which was very entertaining as Lee could make it 'laugh' and fed it crickets on the ground.
Great Grey Owl: The classic post card pose of this huge owl and its wide disc like face, Lee even put the bird on my head and Dawn took a few pics for my social media pages, which was fun.
Tawny Owl Chick: A recent arrival to the park was this rescued tawny chick, the park takes in rescues as well as maintaining a captive population of birds.
Perhaps this is one of the good this about using Bridlington Bird of Prey and Animal Park as they constantly change and get new subjecst to photograph, everyone gets a different experience.
Bizzar looking, this young chick was only out from under its warm lamp for a few moments which gave us time to snap away.
A barn owl was also brought out and a very striking Australian Southern boobook owl brought out, but again I wasnt terribly happy with the hsost I took, it seemd weird looking at an Australian bird in a sycamore tree. And I struggled again with the light on the barn owl.
Lanner Falcon: The last part of the day was a flying display and opportunity to shoot a lanner in flight.
This was sensational, the bird would whizz over our heads, zip past our feet and between us, a great experience.
Here is the link for Bridlington Birds of Prey & Animal Park, I would highly recommend it.
http://bridlingtonanimalpark.co.uk/
