Red-throated Diver Hides

Observe the wildlife on a small wilderness lake from a photography hide,
and capture the moments when Red-throated Divers feed their chicks!

Our Red-throated Diver site is on the shore of a small lake, where you get to follow the life of a Red-throated Diver family from inside a photography hide without disturbing the birds. The parents go fishing in the bigger lakes nearby and bring back food for their chicks. This activity gives the photographer multiple opportunities to capture the outgoing birds.

In addition to the Red-throated Diver family on the lake, Lesser Black-backed Gulls and waders such as Wood Sandpiper or Common Greenshank settle on the lake for the summer season.

The late summer nature spectacle begins at dusk

During the short photography season in late summer, photography conditions remain fairly constant. Clear mornings carry the promise of wonderful backlights early in the morning, and in July, you can shoot almost all night. In August, daylight decreases as the month progresses.

The photography sessions are divided into an evening session (around 6 pm to 10 pm) and a morning session (around 4 am to 8 am), but we recommend staying overnight in the hide, especially in July, when you can photograph almost through the night.

The photography season begins after the chicks have hatched and grown big enough to feed on the fish the parents bring for them from the nearby lakes. This takes place in mid-July, and continues until the chicks leave the lake in late August.

About the hides

There is a total of four 1-person-hides, some of which can accommodate two photographers, if necessary. If you have special needs requirements for the hide, please let us know when booking.

Total capacity: 4 people

Equipment:

Each hide has at least three lens holes at sitting level, one on the front and one on each side. Some have two lens holes facing forward and also a lens hole at water level when lying down on the floor of the hide
Bring your own tripod head/video head to fix your camera onto a wooden shelf or a heavy, moveable metal plate in the hide. Note: Tripods cannot be used
Insect repellent is strongly recommended
There are no toilets in the hides. We provide a portable travel urinal

Photography season: 15 July to 31 August
Photography session: Sessions of 4 to 6 hours both in the morning and in the evening. We suggest you sleep in the hide and combine the sessions.
Location: A 30-min-drive (35 km) from the centre of Kuusamo, with a 500-metre-walk to the hide.

Price for independent photography session: 120 € / photographer / photo session.
Price (briefing included): 170 € / photographer/ photo session

Extra services:

Guiding services 400 € / day
Briefing for first-time visitors 60 € / photographer, 120 € / group

Good to know

Do I need briefing?

We recommend briefing to all photographers with no previous experience in photographing birds from a hide. The briefing, carried out by a professional guide, includes valuable photography tips: how to work in the hide, how to use the heater, how to interpret the behavior of the birds, how to check the backgrounds, etc. This information will significantly improve first-time results.

Do I have the hide for myself?

At the Red-throated Diver site, all hides are for one person only, but it may be possible to share the hide between two people, such as a couple. If you want a private session for your group only, it’s available at an additional cost.

What time of the year can you photograph?

The photographing season is short in the summer, lasting from about 15 July to 31 August depending on the timing and progress of nesting. The photography season begins after the chicks have left the nest and continues until the chicks leave the lake.

How long does one photography session last?

There are two photographing sessions, an evening session and a morning session, both lasting 4 to 6 hours. We recommend staying overnight in the hide and combining sessions to increase your chances of action.

What kind of clothing do I need for the photography hide?

In summer, the hide can be warm, but you should take a warmer outfit along for the night. Guests are advised to bring their own sleeping bag, where you can rest for a moment during the darkest time of the night.

What is the distance to the birds and what kind of lens and equipment do I need to take with me?

The lake is 150 m wide and 100 m across, and the birds move freely throughout the lake. The nearest birds are about 5 metres away, but more often at a distance of about 20 to 50 metres. The hides are on the shore of the pond, both on the same side and next to each other.

We recommend 100-500mm zoom lenses or 300-600mm telephoto lenses + extenders (optional). For pictures of birds in the landscape, it’s possible to use shorter lenses, for example, 70-200mm.