Grulla común hides

Photograph migrating birds – at close range – in snowy landscapes in Kuusamo!

Hides for photographing Cranes and Bean Geese are in a field where dozens of birds congregate during spring migration.

In addition to the Cranes and Bean Geese, other birds visit the area too, such as Whooper Swans, several species of ducks and waders, the occasional Short-eared Owl, and even Mountain Hares.

FLOCKS OF BIRDS GATHER TOGETHER AS THE SPRING GAINS MOMENTUM

The season begins as the migrating birds start returning to Kuusamo at the end of April. Birds congregate in the area eventhough the lakes are still frozen and the fields covered in snow. There are dozens of Cranes and Bean Geese, as well as many other bird species, flocking in the field between end of April and mid-May, until the last of the snow is gone.

ABOUT THE HIDES

There are one big hide for 4 people, where everybody has sitting-level and low-level photoraphy opportunity and 1 or 2 smaller hides with sitting-level opportunity. If you have special needs requirements for the hide, please let us know when booking.

Total capacity: 8 people

Equipment:

One lens hole per person. If a seat in the hide is vacant, its lens hole is available for use
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
You can also use a bean bag
There is a dry toilet in the big hide (4 people)
There are no toilets at the small hides. We provide a portable travel urinal
Each hide has a gel heater

Photography season: 20 April to 15 May
Photography session: Sessions of 4 to 6 hours both in the morning and in the evening
Location: A 45-min-drive (45 km) from the centre of Kuusamo, with a 200-metre-walk to the hide.

Price for independent photography session: 130 € / photographer / photo session
Price (briefing included): 190 € / photographer/ photo session

Extra services:

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

Good to know (FAQ)

Do I need briefing?

We recommend briefing to all photographers who have no previous experience in photographing birds from the 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, where to place the food, etc. This information will significantly improve first-time results.

Do I have the hide for myself?

These hides are for 1 or 2 people, so there may also be other photographers in the hide. If you want a private hide, or a photography session for your group only, it’s available at an additional cost.

What time of the year can you photograph?

The spring photography season is short, lasting roughly a month from about 20 April to 15 May. It depends on when the spring starts and how it advances.

How long does one photography session last?

There are two sessions, an evening session and a morning session, both lasting 4 to 6 hours. During the session, do not come out of the hide, as movement outside the hides will frighten the birds away.

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

In April and May, there may still be frost at night, which is why we recommend warm winter clothes such as wool socks, gloves, a hat and thermal layers, with winter boots and jacket. It’s possible to heat the hides with gel heaters. If you do not have your own, we have warm boots and winter overalls that you can rent.

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

Bird feeders are placed at a distance of about 20 to 30 metres from the hide, and birds are usually anywhere between 10 to 50 metres from the hides.

We recommend 100-400mm / 150-600mm zoom lenses or 300-600mm telephoto lenses + extenders (optional). For birds in the landscape, it’s possible to use shorter lenses, for example 70-200 mm.