Photographing birds from a hide. Wait and see what turns up.

Wait and see photography from a hide or blind has long been my favourite way of photographing birds. Just pick a spot that is attractive to birds and sit in a hide to see what shows up. In the good old days it was very effective, but today with fewer birds around it does not work as often, but I still enjoy it.
I like sitting in hides too. All sorts of wildlife appears that you did not realise was there such as Roe deer and Muntjac.
In the hide I have with me the OM-1 camera and the 150-400mm Olympus lens and I am using an old cotton hide today which is much cooler in this heatwave. For the video work I mostly used the Lumix GH6.
The OM-1 still imprsses me with its autofocus abilities as the Little egret took flight.
Mike Lane wildlife photography www.nature-photography.co.uk/
Music credited to Bensound.com
www.buteophotogear.com/c-3439...
Equipment I use or are mentioned in the videos I produce for KZbin. These are affiliate links and this channel will receive a small commission at no charge to you.
Olympus Cameras
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1X Camera amzn.to/36ebMR7​
OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 MARK II Camera amzn.to/2GljWfO​
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III Camera amzn.to/33ZUpRa​
Olympus Lenses
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS Pro Lens amzn.to/2S3PzNm​
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/2.8 IS Pro lens amzn.to/3jbt9px​
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14 mm F2.8 PRO Lens amzn.to/343ZeJv​
Olympus M.Zuiko DIGITAL ED 100-400mm F5.0-6.3 amzn.to/3ifEvY6​
Other Lenses
Panasonic LUMIX 100-400 mm LEICA Lens amzn.to/3mYb8gD​
Tripods
Manfrotto 502 Fluid video Head with flat base amzn.to/30j6fFg​
Hides
Photo hide Buteo Mark II One Person amzn.to/2S6H4RF​
Bag throw over hide in leaf amzn.to/30hXYBh​
Bag throw over hide in army dpm amzn.to/34b9Xlc​
Bag throw over hide in waterproof army pattern amzn.to/2G6mcHS​
Camera Bean Bags
Grippa Camera Bean Bag, Prefilled amzn.to/3jcvn7Y​
Grippa Camera Bean Bag , Empty amzn.to/3mYQHjs​
Camera Bean Bag, Prefilled amzn.to/2S9sJE9​
Grappler Camera Bean Bag, Army Prefilled amzn.to/2S83UZe​
Grappler Camera Bean Bag, Leaf Prefilled amzn.to/2Gfbw9y

[@philray1614]

Everyone knows that the best time to photograph birds from a hide was half an hour before you got there and ten minutes after you left 😊

[@hikingontario]

That must be a great experience! Thank you for sharing! Greetings from Canada!✅✅💯💯😃😃

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

It was!

[@gregwilsonnaturephotography]

Hey Mike, I enjoy using my hide in my backyard with our local birds. It's to tough to find a place without lots of people in our area to put up a hide in the wild. I can't tell you how many times I've been way out and completely alone for hours and hours and right when I'm about to take photos someone or their dog will come by! Very frustrating! Greg

[@a.riswick7693]

Have you ever heard about that lovely man Mike Lane who's sitting in his hide watching movies that hasn't bee shot yet. Nature is always surprising but it is those experienced photographers that slightly guess what could have been expected. Love those muntjaks, a little piece of India grown familiar on the Brittish Island. It was a hot hot August Summer. Autumn leaves fall, whe're heading to the dark dark wintertime. Experienced photographers know what to do. How many cameranoise before the Spring brings light in a brighter way. What nature wil the seasons bring. Just another chapter in the ongoing movie waiting to be shot by Mike Lane.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you.

[@patthompson1253]

I've been watching your videos for about 3 years now and I have to say, I appreciate them now more than ever. Maybe because my bird photography is steadily improving and I can finally start to appreciate how knowledgeable you really are, Thanks Mike,

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you like them!

[@d-entrecasteaux]

Fantastic Mike. Very enjoyable and inspiring. I’m stunned at the capabilities of the OM1. I captured a Bald Eagle in flight last week. I exposed for its white head while perched in direct sunlight - then it suddenly took off into the shadows. This meant my flight shots are at least 1.5 stops under. After I recovered the exposure in software I was shocked to find 3 out of 5 of the best in the sequence (SH2) are pin sharp and clean as a whistle. Very happy and amazed. We have Great Blue Herons here in Maryland USA. Many live along the Potomac river and some are quite tame. One flew right by me the other day. I held the shutter button down and zoomed out and panned as it passed right by me. 90% of the shots are eyeball sharp. I fully trust this camera to get me even more than I thought I was getting. It’s that good.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Often 100% success on focus.

[@rogerhance5883]

Great video Mike. Like you, I love sitting in hides.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks

[@allenfutrelle9090]

Another great video, thank you.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrTribble2008]

Great video, Mike - good to see you again. Keep up the good work! Gareth (ex ZPC) - still got your Tiger on my kitchen wall from 20 years ago! Cheers!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks Gareth. The print has lasted well.

[@timmienorrie]

Thanks, Mike.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Welcome.

[@michaell5038]

Lucky to see the deers, nice video..

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Yes, thanks

[@mikebrownhill4662]

Thanks for posting - great video. I can't get out with my camera these days because of family issues. A hide is always my "happy place" so videos like this are the next best thing to being there for me at the moment. Thanks you!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

thanks.

[@bolleolympus]

👍👍❤❤👌👌

[@TimSiggs]

Great Video again Mike. I do a fair bit of hide photography in Auz.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thanks.

[@davelock3166]

Great video, Mike. I love wait and see -I prefer the older Fensman type hides, but as you say, you have to make your own. I have noticed that Fallow Deer can be pictured from a hide, even on windy days.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Wish they were still made.

[@planestrainswildlife]

Nice video Mike, I've been sat in my pop up hide today by the River Derwent watching and waiting for Kingfishers, one came eventually and I got a nice little framed shot of it diving from the bush/perch into the river only to find I was on single shot, by the time I had realized it moved on. But I must say I'm loving the bird tracking on my new Canon R7 ATB Andy

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Bird tracking has improved a lot in the last 12 months or so.

[@fredfox1548]

Excellent video

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Thank you very much!

[@tordandreasson]

Thanks, Mike. I use a Tragopan hide. The inside has a reflective layer that keeps the heat outside. And the roof ventilation is adjustable and quite effective. It takes just seconds to deploy.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

That's a great idea!

[@skakdosmer]

I admire your patience. I don't think I could put up with sitting in a hide for more than a few minutes. There must be times when nothing happens, and I'd quickly be too bored.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I'm the same in front of the TV!

[@skakdosmer]

@@MikeLaneFRPS me too. Which is why I never watch tv.

[@alandimery3379]

A lovely way to spend a couple of hours. Thank you for sharing. How do you deal with curious passers by? I would be very wary being on my own in a hide and not knowing what is behind me.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I am usually far away from people.

[@TatraScrambler]

Lovely location, splendid photography as usual. It's a pity you didn't get any waders, though. You'd imagine, with all this mud unhidden due to drought / low water levels, there should at least be some. If it was that hot, why long trousers then? Is it because of ticks? P.S. Mike if you please could share some tips on photographing Common Snipe, that would be great. Cheers!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Bramble, thistles are enough to encourage long trousers. I have a YT film coming up with snipe in it.

[@ukwildlife]

Great video, I having fun going through your back catalogue on here :) I know you say not to ask about the GH6 in the video but its been 9months so I hope its ok to now? Ive had similar issues with dust with mine, but mostly been OK. I have a similar set up, with an OM-1 and a set of Olympus lenses for stills and few years ago bought a gh5 for video and the GH6 soon after it launched for video. At Birdfair the OM stand let me put the 150-400mm on my GH6, and I did a bit of handheld video which teh IS worked well with, but obviously couldn't really test it out standing in marquee. Have you tested the GH6 with the 150-400mm much and how do you find it?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I would not say I have tested it, but I use it a lot. The GH6 works fine with the 150-400mm. I am always on a tripod for video. I have started to use the GH6 less in recent weeks as I now enjoy 240 fps slow motion more than the 120 4K. At 240 fps it is HD so I might as well use the OM-1.

[@ukwildlife]

@@MikeLaneFRPS thanks

[@LarryFasnacht]

Very cool! Any recommendations for a hide in the USA? It would be my first time. I have what I think would be a good spot, but don't know quite how to get started.

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I do not know what hides are available in the USA, but if you look on Ebay, Amazon and Google shopping for "bird hide" or "bird blind" you will find them.

[@LarryFasnacht]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Ok thank you.

[@jimmyjohansson8477]

Dear Mike,can you tell me the measurement of the alumium poles fore the hide, i like the setup you have /Jimmy

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

width 1 metre. height telescopic up to 1.6 metre.

[@jimmyjohansson8477]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Great Mike can you give me the diameter on the tube. /jimmy

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

@@jimmyjohansson8477 It will be about 1 inch

[@jimmyjohansson8477]

@@MikeLaneFRPS Perfekt thanks a lot, i try to make a copy of you hide!

[@cgb9244]

How much measure this homemade hide? Im thinking making my own! Thanks for all!!

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

Mine is 3 feet by 3 feet and 5.5 feet tall.

[@northdevonwildlifewithandy788]

Where do you find locations? Private land?

[@MikeLaneFRPS]

I spend a lot of time outdoors and knock on doors to ask permission.

[@happy11111100]

Hi Mike i work for the royal mail and i deliver to British Telecom in South Wales they have a very very tall building 3 days ago i was watching 2 Peregrine Falcon young birds perched on an iron beam the nest is up there somewhere i have heard them screeching up there for weeks they come back every year i know of another 2 nests both are in abandoned Quarries