Pic of the month: August '11 Osprey fishing, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland It seems that ospreys have had a bit of a mixed year with many established pairs failing to raise young, including the pair that breed close to my home. Violent weather at a critical time in the breeding cycle has also seen red kite and buzzard nests blown clean off their trees. The bird shown here however, has done her job and what a job. This individual osprey, along with her mate, has not only contributed to the increasing population at large, she is nothing short of a global celebrity - a David Beckham of the avian world. Each year she attracts over 40,000 people to watch eagerly as she incubates her precious eggs. Thousands, if not tens of thousands more, watch her and her family on the internet. She is possibly the most famous bird in the world. And as if that's not enough, she's a bit of a money spinner too - osprey tourism has become big business. But perhaps more than anything, this bird will leave a legacy upon which no price can be laid. She has enthused, engaged and entertained a whole generation, paving the way for a healthier future - and not only for ospreys. She is 'EJ', 14-year-old star of the Loch Garten pair. And if you think 'star' is stretching it a bit, just google her! For the record, image taken at Rothiemurchus. Best regards Peter Cairns CALEDONIA - at last! Right, we now have the Caledonia books in stock – hurrah! It’s been a bit of a rocky road but the books are now available. This is our first self-published book and has many previously unpublished images alongside Niall Benvie’s insightful essays. The book is suitable for weddings, birthdays, christenings, anniversaries and Christmas (this year or next) or just a bit of indulgence over a cup of tea. If you have even the slightest interest in the future of Scotland's forest (and let's be honest, you really should have), this book should be on your bookshelf. Order here. Upcoming events Both Wildphotos (October, London) and the Scottish Nature Photography Fair (September, Perth) are now open for bookings. As usual both events offer a range of top speakers (the caveat being the latter where I’m doing a spot) on a variety of photographic and conservation subjects. Do come along and say hello. Beer Branding. We’re delighted to have supplied the images for the re-branding of two ales from the Cairngorm Brewery in Aviemore. ‘Wildcat’ and ‘Capercaillie’ can be sampled in local bars and are available online. We do ofcourse advocate responsible drinking...at least before 7pm. 2020VISION on Countryfile 2020VISION makes its first TV appearance on BBC1’s Countryfile on August 14th. Andy Rouse, Guy Edwardes and myself will feature in a short spot about the restoration of the Somerset Levels, one of 2020VISION’s primary assignments. The Mother of all films We like to try and flag things up from time to time and this is one not to be missed. Mother – caring for 7 billion is an ambitious film which addresses the consequences of unimpeded population growth. Watch the trailer here – it makes compelling viewing. One 2 One The first of a series of One 2 One podcast interviews with friends from the photographic world, is now online. Listen to our interview with photographer Mark Hamblin here. There will be more in this series posted in the coming months. Canon camera gear for sale Due to the unfortunate death of a previous tour client, we’ve been asked to promote the sale of a quantity of Canon camera equipment and accessories. Everything is in tiptop condition so if you’d like a list of what’s available, email us and we’ll pass on your request. PHOTO TOUR NEWS Our inaugural tour to Shetland last month passed with remarkably little rain (!!) and although puffin numbers were dramatically down in line with other sites, our group enjoyed close encounters with many of the wild celebrities from these northern isles – including some fantastic otters. A few images can be viewed here and bookings are now open for next year's tour. Niall Benvie and Charlotte Eatough reinvented what could be done with a camera in a single meadow on our recent Wild on White workshop in the Cairngorms. Niall’s technique of photographing wild subjects against a white background and in exquisite detail, is not an easy one to master but master it our group did! Well done to all. By the time you receive our next newsletter we'll be back from Svalbard, home of the polar bear. Check out this great arctic adventure for next year - places are limited to 12 and we're already half full. Ultimate Autumn Gold To close off our bookings for 2011, we have just two places left on our Ultimate Autumn Gold tour to the Cairngorms and Skye. If you book as a couple or friends sharing, we are offering one of you a discount of 50% - that’s a saving of over £500! You can’t refuse that, can you? Email us to book. And so to 2012… Some of our tours for next year are already nearly full so if you’ve not looked at our 2012 range, it might be a good idea to do so. We have just one place left on our unique adventure to photograph musk oxen and our traditional series of Winter Wildlife tours in the Cairngorms are filling fast. We post regular updates on all tours on our Facebook page so if you’re not yet a follower, don’t miss out. Oh and finally, there should shortly be some news for those who expressed an interest on the Antarctica tour. A.M.A.N.D.A. Amanda's latest musings can be found on our blog. She's really getting into the groove now! 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