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In late September 2023, I ran an extension for the participants in the Wild Wolves of the Taiga Forest workshop (Read the Trip Report) in northern Finland for golden eagles and eagle owls. Northern Finland is one of the best places to see and photograph these amazing birds reliably, and late September provides lovely colour in the boreal forest. Fortuitously, we had excellent photographic encounters with both species and many smaller bird species. We also had a miraculous encounter with a Eurasian Pygmy Owl.

For the duration of this extension, we were based near the small town of Muhos. We photographed exclusively from private hides dedicated to the Golden Eagle and Eagle Owl. A typical day saw us in the hides early after breakfast for the eagle and late into the evening for the Eagle Owl. As the Eagle Owl is most active at night, all of the photography of this unique bird is accomplished with pre-fixed lighting. Whilst this is a set-up scene, there is, of course, no guarantee that an owl will come to the planned location. Fortunately, we did not have to wait too long before the Eagle Owl put on a show for us.

Our first day in the hide for Golden Eagle saw us up well before sunrise and in the hide after an early breakfast before 7 a.m. During the day, we photographed multiple Sparrowhawks as well as many small species of birds, with the most common being the Eurasian Jay and Great Tit. We also had several sightings of Goshawk, but they did not land or provide photographic opportunities. The Sparrowhawks, in particular, provided an excellent aerobatic show throughout the morning, and many photographs were made of these fast-moving raptors.

On day two in the hide, a young male golden eagle briefly appeared at dusk just before we left the hide. Small birds were abundant throughout the day, although the sparrowhawks were strangely absent on day two.

On our third day, we headed to a different hide, hoping for encounters with the magnificent Eagle Owl. After an hour or so in the hide post-sunset, the Eagle Owl appeared and provided some fantastic opportunities throughout the half-hour, it stayed in the lit area.

On our fourth and final day, we returned to the eagle hide, hoping for more photographic encounters with this magnificent eagle. Late in the afternoon, as the sun began to get low in the sky the young male Golden Eagle returned and provided us some beautiful opportunities in golden light.

In addition to the Golden Eagle and Eagle Owl, we also photographed Eurasian and Siberian Jays’, many Tits, including the Great, Crested, Blue and Siberian, as well as the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Ravens, and a short but incredible encounter in the evening gloom at the Eagle Owl hide with a Eurasian Pygmy Owl. The pygmy owl was both a ‘lifer’ and a real thrill for me as this was the first time I had seen and photographed this species in the wild. Arriving just before complete darkness had descended, the owl landed on a small perch just metres away from my position in the hide. It stayed only a few moments before it disappeared silently into the night. Encounters such as this can never be planned and are pure serendipity.

This photograph of the Pygmy Owl would have been impossible just a generation of camera equipment ago. Shot at ISO12,800 at f4 at just 1/20th of a second, handheld with the Canon EOS R3 and Canon RF600mm F4L IS. The combination of the image stabilisation in the lens, working in conjunction with the IBIS in the EOS R3, enabled me to hold the camera and lens steady for a pin-sharp image, even at just 1/20th of a second. No flash or artificial lighting was used for this photograph. In near-total darkness, the Canon EOS R3 was able to find and lock focus on the eye of the owl – an incredible feat of modern technology.

The Golden Eagle and Eagle Owl extension proved a fantastic way to wrap up Finland in 2023. I will return to Finland in September 2025, for my Wild Wolves of the Taiga forest workshop. The workshop will run from the 15th to the 22nd of September, typically the peak time for Autumn colour in the Taiga forest at this latitude. On this workshop you can expect close encounters with Wolves, Bears and even Wolverine. Typically, on an average day, we will enter the hides in the early afternoon and return to our accommodation in the evening. We stay in nearby local cabins that are cozy and comfortable. For 2025, I will take just five photographers with several places already spoken for. If you would like to join or would like more information, please drop me an email to register your interest.