Scottish Autumn Adventure - Pt 1 - Mountain Hare with Pops

[@fionastewart2085]

Another great video Dan and Pops. If you want to save Pops knees and hips next time, try driving over the hill from Findhorn valley to Farr. Up on the hill close to the wind farm, you can use car as a hide to spot the hares just by the road. I take my 98 year old Dad up there for a similar experience. Magical everytime. Love the behaviour you caught on video.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Fiona, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback. That's great advice and something that I will definitely look into on my next visit to the area. All the very best 😊

[@roaminginraymond]

Another lovely video. I love hares, they are one of my favourites. Rabbits, including pet ones, eat their own poo too. Cak I ask where you parked as I can only find one parking area, towards the end of a road by a private road.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much. We parked right next to the river at the gate which gives you direct access to the fells. If you message me on instagram I will send you a link 👍🏻

[@roaminginraymond]

@danwillis_photography OK. Thanks.

[@SimonFloryPhotography]

Great banter between the two of you with amazing shots and top-quality video production. It looks like a real "hidden gem" does the Findhorn valley - we will have to make the trip there instead of making the usual trip to the popular "honeypot" locations. Very pleased that as well as seeing such intimate behaviour of the Mountain are; you came away with some raptor sightings too. Many thanks and best wishes to you and pops.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Simon, really appreciate your support and kind words 👍🏻

[@GeoffCooper]

Great video Dan and Pops! Awesome to watch this video from a fantastic location I have been to many times, including in summer, but can't really get to myself these days! Thermal scopes are such a game-changer for finding these well camouflaged animals - I think finding mountain hares was probably what finally convinced me to get one a couple of years ago.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Geoff, I really appreciate your continued support for the channel. It was the same for me, the Hares definitely convinced me to invest in a thermal. All the very best 😊

[@Trish12303]

Awesome video guys!! The photos are beautiful!!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Patty ☺️

[@sheila4254]

Fantastic video well done Dan & Pops 👏

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Sheila, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback. All the very best 😊

[@nickclaytonphotography]

Amazing stuff Dan & Stu! I’m with you on the age thing Dan, my own ‘Pops’ accompanies me on several trips per year & I forget that he’s late 70’s too & March off leaving him behind at times. My bad 😞 How fantastic for you both, love the chemistry & admiration you share with each other & it really shines mate. Fantastic tips about the use of a monopod on steep slopes as an anchor point, & also the way you go about your approach to get close to these very wary subjects. Fantastic mate, look forward to part 2. Keep on keeping on bud! Best, Nick

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Nick, always really appreciate your continued support and encouragement mate. I’m glad it’s not just me that forgets about their Dads age! He will always be my hero and as a result I continue to forget that at times he’s not as fit and agile as he used to be. He still makes me proud every single day though. All the best mate 👍🏻

[@richardchew1767]

Hi Dan. Great to see the comedy duo back on the road 🤣…. oh, but with some of your usual welcome insights and tips plus excellent photography 🙂 Mountain Hare toilet habits …. very interesting but it should have come with a “don’t try this at home” warning 🤣 I have never seen a Mountain Hare in the UK before, other than sadly dead ones on the verge of the higher parts of the A9 such as around Dalwhinnie. But I have driven down the Findhorn valley many times over the years. Apart from Mull (obviously!), it is where I have had the most success with raptors in Scotland. By the way, from your photo, I think your eagle was a Golden rather than a White-tailed. Richard

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Richard, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. I will definitely drop in a 'Don't try this at home' warning in the future 😂😂 You are not the first person to ID the eagle as a Goldie so you could well be right. All the very best 👍🏻

[@richardgreenwood7918]

Another great video, and good to see a wildlife photographer raising positive fieldcraft. It is sadly lacking in some photographers.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Richard, I really appreciate your support and positive feedback. All the best 👍🏻

[@glennhunt3595]

Never quite got my head around the hunting scene, can understand the adrenalin rush of stalking an animal ( as demonstrated admirably by yourself and pops in the video !!! ) then getting the "killer shot" photographicaly speaking for me gives me a great deal more satisfaction knowing the subject can go on to live another day. Can see a great bond between you and your father - treasure it Dan. 😀.👍

[@danwillis_photography]

You and I Glenn are definitely on the same wavelength as far as hunting is concerned mate. I will never understand it! I feel blessed to have the relationship I have with Pops and never take that for granted. All the very best 👍🏻

[@TrevorMayes]

Great video, really enjoyed that big thank you to both of you. All the best for 2025 👍

[@heilandgunner]

Great video as always, Dan. I'd double check your identification of the eagle, though. From the shot at 27:36, I'd say it's a Golden Eagle, not White-Tailed. The colouration of the bird, especially the beak (50% black) and tail (not a sign of white) are what make me say that. Also, the shape/size of the beak and head. Seems too slender to be a WTE. I really must get myself across to Findhorn at some point. It looks amazing. Thanks for posting another great video.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Andrew, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. A number of people have suggested the same observations on the Eagle, so I would say you are right. All the very best 👍🏻

[@johannmorrison1952]

Love those photos!! I think mountain hares are equally photogenic with their brown plumage, so great captures both of you!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Johan for your support and encouragement I really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@josephtaylor7456]

I know pops you were proud of yourself but I am an old un too so also very proud of your achievements

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you for that, I know Pops will really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@StephenBrooks-e9m]

Another great adventure. Good to see Pops again, your relationship is heartwarming. Your obvious enthusiasm is infectious. Keep doing what you do.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Stephen, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@StephenBrooks-e9m]

@ I’m thinking about camera trapping, I wonder if you can do a vlog on what equipment etc , setting up on a budget

[@danwillis_photography]

@ I can definitely do a video on that mate 👍🏻

[@StephenBrooks-e9m]

@ that would be brilliant

[@mariamullin4031]

Beautiful photos of the hare from you and Pops , great video too.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much for your continued support and encouragement I really appreciate it ☺️

[@DaveSandell-w6r]

Brilliant video Dan and pops mountain hare pops done brilliant with the rough terrain then to see white tailed eagle and other raptors 👍🏻👍🏻

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Dave for your continued support and encouragement I really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@deolimjo]

Stunning, great to see pops enjoying himself.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much as always, I really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@lw9956]

Great episode again Dan glad you and Pops are well 👍😀 look forward to the next video

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much for your continued support and encouragement I really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@allanternent8862]

Great as always Dan and pops

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Allan, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@SpottedThroughLens]

What an amazing experience, amazing to have your dad with you on these adventures.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much mate, we really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@ianwilsonwildlifephotography]

Another great video Dan and so glad to see Pops getting around ok, he’s done fantastically well. Just love the Findhorn Valley, always been there more for the raptors so far but will definitely be going for the hares at some point. 👍😂

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Ian, always appreciate your support and feedback mate 👍🏻

[@LouisaLee63]

Excellent!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@morleydd]

Another great video Dan - you and Pops have such a great chemistry and are so enthusiastic - brightened up what has been a very wet and dismal w/e

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@malcolmyates7087]

Great as always Dan. You are a very lucky man having your Pops with you what an experience for you both 🙏

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Malcolm, I never take for granted the opportunities that I get to share with Pops. All the very best 👍🏻

[@OldGirlPhotography]

You two are entertaining and fun to tag along with. Thanks for letting us join you.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you very much, we really do appreciate comments such as this ☺️

[@ronscarbel5062]

Great adventure as always. Great to see Pops joining you. Lovely images from both.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Ron, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@garytuck5297]

Absolutely amazing video! Well done to the both of you. 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Gary, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@Smuttydog]

After watching a few of your videos, I subscribed to you earlier in the week. This Sunday I caught Landward, on the tv, and they were at Findhorn... Then this morning I received notification of this video. The opening scene I thought, "that looks like where I went, back at the beginning of March, with Karen Miller as my guide on my first venture out for wildlife on my "to do" list to push myself to get through my anxiety problems. Thank you so much for taking me right back there and the hare you sat with was in exactly the same place as the first one Karen and I sat with and photographed. Thank you again for bringing the memories back... Loving all of your videos I've seen, so far, as I'm looking to go to Mull next year for otters, eagles... and hopefully more hares...

[@danwillis_photography]

I’m so glad that the video brought back some wonderful memories. I think it was Karen who named that particular hare Bo so it might well have been the same hare. It sounds like you are making some great progress with your anxiety and I hope that this continues for you in the future. Take care and all the very best 👍🏻

[@Smuttydog]

@danwillis_photography - yes! Karen named it Bo, after the boulder it used to sit beside. There's been a short film made called "Finding Bo"... I think it was named after the hare having disappeared for a while. Karen says it gets very busy with photographers on those slopes as you witnessed... Up to 12 people on one hare. I noticed you have another video from 9 months back. We must have just missed you and your family as we went there early on the 3rd of March, I believe. There was a smattering of snow around where Bo resides and the one lower down, I think maybe you and Pops sat with was the first one we got close to before I got introduced to Bo. Karen is a great guide. I was only at her place in "The Drey" for 4 nights... But we got to sit with Red Squirrels and Crested Tits out near her place. Next day we set out before sunrise to go to the Mountain Hares then on the last day we squeezed in a quick glimpse of Eider duck on the way to some free range Red Deer. I was hoping to go to Mull, last Apri, l with the camera group I'm in... But anxiety got the better of me. Now hoping to do that in 2026... Possibly by myself this time.

[@KWTImages]

Well done on a cracking blog, and well done Pops on your bit of exercise in getting your shots 👊👌😊

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Keith, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@Stevebwj]

Pops did amazing. Well done pops 🎉

[@danwillis_photography]

He certainly did 👍🏻

[@derekflynnsnr]

Another great video Dan, I especially love the banter between you and Pops, great shots of the Hare too

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much for your continued support and encouragement Derek, it’s always appreciated mate 👍🏻

[@andywilson3381]

Lovely Dan, the hare looks gorgeous in the autumn colours I have a cottage booked there next Feb I can’t wait!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Andy, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@nigelroberson8911]

Lovely film. You and Pops are a great team. The Ant n Dec of wildlife film making.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much for your continued support and encouragement Nigel, it’s always appreciated mate 👍🏻

[@chrismc2090]

Very nice Dan, lovely photos, video and banter! Great to see!

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Chris, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@johngunning2123]

Findhorn Valley looks like a great spot. I've never seen a mountain hare, although I have seen plenty of Brown Hares. Like rabbits, hares are an introduced species in Australia and are officially regarded as a pest animal. I was interested to discover that they reprocess their droppings. I'm not aware of another animal that does that. Well done to Pops for climbing those hills.👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much John, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@warrengilson1835]

The faeces that the hare eats are called soft faeces or cecotropes. It’s not true faeces (which the hare does produce on the second time through) but vegetative material that has been fermenting in the caecum or hindgut and the nutrients can now be more easily digested.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks for sharing this Warren, that's really fascinating to read. All the very best mate 👍🏻

[@andrewmilne3031]

Fantastic video and foties again Dan😀, but as always pops takes the best foties. I think that mountain hare was blowing a raspberry at you as it knows pops is best. Great to see pops looking so happy. 😀😀

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Andrew, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@ianhawes7126]

My favourite car park in the world!!!!!

[@danwillis_photography]

Mine too! Thanks very much 👍🏻

[@johnclark9499]

Another brilliant video Dan (and Pops), thank you . We were there ( I mean exactly there) the first week of November. One of our most favourite places on the planet, we'll never get tired of visiting. That 10 miles from Findhorn bridge is just magical. Can't wait to go back again. Thanks for making this video (and the others you've done from the same place), means we can 'visit' whenever we want even when we can't actually be there!. PS: Every time we go there we seem to bump into Steve Reddick, think he must be there most days of the week :).

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much John, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. It was actually through one of John's safari's that I discovered the valley. All the very best 👍🏻

[@johnclark9499]

@@danwillis_photography Thank you Dan, your videos are amongst the very best, always feel like you are taking me/us along with you on your photographic adventures.

[@danwillis_photography]

@ that’s the best compliment I can receive, cheers mate 👍🏻

[@warrengilson1835]

You and Pops are just the best company. Cannot stop smiling (is that a hare on your shoulder Dan 😂) Thermal scopes are brilliant for mammal spotting - I use mine at night to locate mammals until I’m close enough to get a torch on it.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Warren, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@johnhjic2]

Hello Both, what a great youtube once agin. Thank you.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much John, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@sangliersepromene]

Nice video of a place I know a little. Is the thermal camera really effective for spotting small mammals, and which model is best at HIKMICRO which seems to be cheaper than other brands?. thanks for all these beautiful shares with pops who seems to have gotten back into shape.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Jeanmarc, I really appreciate it 👍🏻 The thermal is definitely effective for spotting small mammals, you would strugle to ID them from range but to actually find them and then switch to binos or a scope they are fantastic. I would say that you get what you pay for with thermal, I went for a mid-range scope and it was spot on. You can pay a lot more and a lot less and it seems to impact on image quality and range. All the best

[@RobertArundell-u3r]

Another great video Dan. Great to see the Hares. Rob Arundell

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Rob, really appreciate it 👍🏻

[@allanwright1839]

Hi Dan, could you please tell me what the connection between your mono pod and your camera is please?? It seems it's just a ball and Cup arrangement? Many thanks Allan. Keep the videos coming, love everyone of them. Cheers for the inspiration.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Allan, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. The connection is the Speedigimbal, we have a discount code for our watchers of the channel, it's 'Pops'. I can't recommend the Speedigimbal enough, it's an absolutely game changing piece of kit that both Pops and I use loads. All the very best 👍🏻

[@robhowardphotography6439]

I was watching ! 1st year White Tailed Sea Eagle ! Very nice mate. Seeing you on Pops on screen is just so adorable. It's how me and my Dad were. Really enjoyed it mate 👍

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Rob, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. A few other watchers have suggested it was a goldie? My thoughts was a WTSE so I'm glad you thought so. All the very best 👍🏻

[@KateWillis-t7p]

❤

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks lovely x

[@philippaday7805]

Great video! Are you able to put a link to the thermal scope you use? Looks like a great tool to help find wildlife 😊

[@danwillis_photography]

Thank you so much. I’ve popped a link below but shop around as there’s plenty of deals about. www.wexphotovideo.com/hikmicro-lynx-2-0-15mm-lh152-0-thermal-monocular-3151711/?cpgnid=17651495694&adext=&account=853-353-2386&campaign=&group=&mkwid=_dm&pcrid=&kword=&match=&plid=&pgrid=&ptaid=&si=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD6dWBeHnNeF7T60aNQIFA8Q9IRFZ&gclid=CjwKCAiA3ZC6BhBaEiwAeqfvyrN0iMeX8E8rJj2ZM_4ArJqVyTV_PMMY1uHTKCdCU2OSjWZBbUZWhxoCSJ8QAvD_BwE

[@redgoldfinch6]

Cool video Dan, its a truly stunning place. You mentioned you were up there early morning, are you now allowed over the bridge early morning? as there has always been a sign in place at the bridge not allowing access until late morning, 11am I think during stalking season.

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much I appreciate it. I did see the sign and was also acknowledged by a hunting party so would imagine as long as you are sensible it’s okay. All the best 👍🏻

[@jennysimpson9422]

Having watched your previous video I managed to visit in September and what a stunning valley. Could I please ask what thermal scope you are using

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks Jenny, I really do appreciate it. The scope is the HIKMICRO Lynx 2.0 15mm. All the best 😊

[@Jwb-d6h]

Loved this video with you and pops. Could you tell me what thermal scope you use please?

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much. The HIKMICRO, lynx 2.0 15mm was the scope I used mate 👍🏻

[@stephentaylor4281]

To danwillis from Stephen I have gust seen you video that was just absolutely wonderful video keep the good work up hope we meet up sometime From Stephen

[@danwillis_photography]

Thanks very much Stephen, I really do appreciate your continued support and positive feedback mate. All the very best 👍🏻

[@Gleebi]

What thermal scope are you using? Any links?

[@danwillis_photography]

I was using the HIKMICRO Lynx 2.0 15mm, it is a midrange scope but I found it really good. Well worth shopping around as there are lots of deals about at the moment 👍🏻