Bikepacking to a Scottish Loch | Wildlife Photography | Beaver

[@stephenelderphoto]

This was a brilliant video Espen. What a thrill to photograph beavers here in Scotland! Thanks ❤

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you so much Stephen 🙂

[@CamillaI]

Ringlet butterfly quite common down South, well that really was a wild camp. Lovely to get your target species, but just what an awesome experience 👍

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot, that looks just like it 👍

[@klaustomasini]

Possible butterfly: Aphantopus hyperantus, male Ringlet

[@EspenHelland]

Looks very similar, thanks!

[@juanitakelly3082]

Thanks for taking us along on your wonderful camping adventure with a fun variety of wildlife. Nice filming techniques that made us feel like we were right there with. I read a book a few years ago called Eager by Ben Goldfarb that makes you really appreciate beavers!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much Juanita 🙂 I’ll have to look up that book

[@juanitakelly3082]

@@EspenHelland The author did a zoom presentation for our local Audubon chapter recently. Interesting fellow!

[@neilcole3406]

When l do this in the forest on my bike, l pick up a million punctures!

[@ronaldbuitendijkfotografie]

Excellent video again! I must say, damselflies are usually pretty chill if you approach slowly. At least that is my experience. Some individuals may be skittish, but definitely not all of them.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks, I might try that next time. I don’t photograph them nearly enough

[@KGsPhotography]

Stunning location Espen and oh some beautiful footage of the Beavers too. Cheers Keith

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Keith 🙂

[@timothylabrecque8589]

Nice camp! You should get yourself a little hanmock. Would have been perfect for that spot. Great footage and photos as always

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Timothy! I actually have one, but I never manage to sleep well in it 😅

[@obscuredtones3972]

Espen, love and appreciate all of the work and effort you put into your content. Your love of nature really shines through. I shoot OM as well. Mostly stills but really just starting to dabble in video. I use the 300, don’t have the big 150-400… yet! I was wondering if you shot the video of the beavers hand held? It’s remarkably stable, especially at that distance! I’ve gotten good video with the 300 hand held but I find it difficult unless you can use something to help stabilize. Anyway thanks for your videos. I really love watching them.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you very much 🙂 it was hand held yes. I try to sit, lean against something, hold my breath and I can usually get a few seconds of completely still footage even at long focal lengths. I tend to film wildlife at 60fps so I can slow down the footage in post which gives me a longer steady sequence.

[@jonathanashton4758]

Looks like Ringlet butterfly and Azure damselflies 9-10 min in video.

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers Jonathan 🙂

[@esjovold6572]

Hi. Great video as always thanks. I learned a shooting trick watching this one. I usually put the lens foot of my 300 f4 on top of the lens while shooting hand held. With it resting in your palm I notice ho easily you could adjust the focus manually. What is the bade you have on the foot? I had never thought of that. It’s amazing how often I learn a little trick watching these videos. I also didn’t know beavers had been extinct in Scotland. In Canada we have lots and they can be a nuisance some times.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks! Glad to hear it 🙂 it’s a little wooden handle, makes it really comfortable to hold in the palm. It was a gift. I posted the email on how to get on in a comment a couple of videos ago.

[@GeoffCooper]

Looks like a great location and really good to see that you've manage to catch up with the beavers! I really like that image where the beaver has their tail out of the water while feeding!

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Geoff! I remember being jealous of seeing you out a few years back camping and photographing beavers 😅

[@russrichards]

What a way to be watching and photographing the wildlife. Such a beautiful location and an amazing main subject. That still of the wagtail was the shot of the trip for me, Espen! I second the butterflies being a 'Ringlet' (Aphantopus hyperantus.) but add the possibility of them being a 'Large heath' (Coenonympha tullia.). Thanks for the video!👍👏👏

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Russ! My favourite image as well 🙂 yeah looks more like the ringlet, but I’ll keep an eye out for the large heath, cheers!

[@russrichards]

@@EspenHelland You're welcome, I'm no expert though. 👍👍

[@joeret2896]

Beautiful videos, are you using manual focus for video or c-af? Thanks

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks! Usually manual focus, especially when I film wildlife

[@tomrounding4239]

Great vlog :-) Scotland looks amazing

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@frednorman1]

Great video I am amazed that you can take video with the telephone lens and no tripod.. don’t you get a lot of movement?

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂 no the IS is really good. I can easily get a few seconds or more with very smooth footage which is all I need for a clip.

[@neilcole3406]

Hi, Espen could you tell me what lens your using? Cheers

[@EspenHelland]

I mostly used the 150-400mm f/4.5 with built in teleconverter 1.25x

[@IanWilkinson]

09:22 I think it's called a Ringlet.

[@Namaste..]

Yup. Ringlet (Aphantopus hyperantus)

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@rustyanddebbieperkins]

Outstanding!! Very inspiring

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@photographic_nomad]

Another great video mate 🔥

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@elgaletes]

It's fantastic to see these animals in their environment... wonderful!

[@MjHomerGermany]

To Mr. helland great photos. In the case of the species of butterflies and dragonflies, possible groups are named here, the underside of the butterfly wings are also necessary for differences, with the dragonflies the 1st segment of the tail behind the head and body with legs is then decisive because the markings there enable the subspecies. In the case of butterflies, you can then use monocrom, internal red filter and POL-FILTER to differentiate between m/w. I noticed this during a pairing. And in UV they all look different again. --- Brown forest bird Insects. Scientific name: Aphantopus hyperantus Higher classification: Aphantopus Rank: Art Order: Butterflies (Lepidoptera) In the case of butterflies, the underside is also relevant for an assignment. Then you can still distinguish between male and female in Monocrom with POL-FILTER. --- A group is named here for the dragonfly, the 1st segment of the tail is decisive for a distinction, since the drawing there indicates the subspecies Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion ornatum) SRH type 4045 ---- An Hr. Helland tolle Fotos. Bei den Arten der Schmetterlinge und Libellen da sind hier mögliche Gruppen benannt, für Unterschiede sind auch die Unterseite der Schmetterlingflügel notwendig, bei den Libellen ist hinter Kopf und Körper mit Beinen dann das 1 Glied des Schwanz entscheidend da die Zeichnung dort die Unterart ermöglicht. Bei Schmetterlingen können Sie mit Monocrom, Rotfilter intern und POL-FILTER dann noch m/w unterscheiden. Dies ist mir bei einer Paarung aufgefallen. Und in UV sehen alle nochmals anders aus. --- Brauner Waldvogel Insekten. Wissenschaftlicher Name: Aphantopus hyperantus Höhere Klassifizierung: Aphantopus Rang: Art Ordnung: Schmetterlinge (Lepidoptera) Bei Schmetterlingen ist für eine Zuordnung noch die Unterseite relevant. Dann kann man in Monocrom mit POL-FILTER noch zwischen m/w unterscheiden. --- Bei der Libelle ist hier eine Gruppe benannt, für eine Unterscheidung ist das 1. Glied des Schwanz entscheidend, da dort die Zeichnung die Unterart anzeigt Azurblaue Damselfly (Coenagrion ornatum) FFH-Typ 4045 --- Respektfully MJ from Germany

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks for your input MJ 🙂👍

[@cdof5981]

The damselfly is the Common Blue Damselfly, Enallagma cyathigerum. Loved the video. What a spectacular location. How were the midges?

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot! Midges weren’t that bad, a had a bit of wind and they’re not as bad here as on the west coast.

[@peterlamdin677]

Terrific video! I love beavers and see them quite often near where I live in the Northeastern U.S. I really enjoy the information you give about the wildlife you see and the way that you photograph them. Looked like a perfect camping trip!

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot Peter 🙂 it really was a perfect camp, can’t wait to do some more!

[@davidoshaughnessy493]

lovely work yet again. thanks for the back story regarding the reintroduction of the beaver to Scotland . just a little tip to blowing up the mattress , swoop the air into the bag, save ya puff mate.

[@EspenHelland]

Great tip, thanks a lot David!

[@stephencooper8565]

Lovely video , I love the passion that shows in your face when you see something. It shows you enjoy what you are doing, Never seen a wild beaver but would love to . Thanks

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Stephen, means a lot 🙂

[@marklaurendet1861]

Fantastic location and photos But what happened to your wooden cup?

[@EspenHelland]

Oh I had it, with a bit of whisky 😄 I must have missed the footage when I edited.

[@jenspeterkragh6155]

Great video, You are a great inspiration to me :-)

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks Jens! Appreciate it

[@matthew2410]

Thank you What a brilliant video

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot 🙂

[@kjetilolsen45]

Tilbake fra fotoskjulet selv. Hyggelig video :)

[@EspenHelland]

Takk! Noen bra arter som viste seg?

[@malcolmriley6897]

Loved that from beginning to end.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you Malcolm 🙂

[@ianpawson1356]

Great location and they were so close

[@EspenHelland]

Cheers! They really were

[@alandearson1270]

What a great video , thanks.

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@raytaylor3090]

excellent Espen, looks great fun sleeping in the wild in isolation. Just back from Bempton Cliffs , the Gannets are amazing and plentiful .

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot! Any good photos of Gannets?

[@raytaylor3090]

@@EspenHelland I took 3000 shots so still going through them but I have seen a couple I like, also a shot of a puffin shot through some long grass, climbing the cliff with the crashing waves in the background

[@j16m02]

Fantastic!!

[@EspenHelland]

Thank you 🙂

[@cwetfeet]

Excellent video, over here in the states beavers are very common. Many, perhaps most, do not build the classic lodge in the middle of a pond. look for a large pile of underwater/sumbmerged sticks near the steep banks of the pond to find their home.

[@EspenHelland]

Thanks a lot! Think I may have going it 🙂 will go back soon