Category: ピックアップ

Hello! This is Ootake Camera.

Here is the Crested Kingfisher Base Report for 8/8.

5:02 — an adult female arrived from the right, but then didn’t come back… (sweat). She finally returned just as we were packing up. ^^; Something must have happened out there… We can only hope she isn’t injured.

Come to think of it, the other birds were also rather scarce today… Common Kingfisher, Little Ringed Plover — all quiet.

· At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

※Notice for guests: We have been experiencing many hot days lately, and the inside of the hide can get quite warm. Please come prepared with a fan, a cooling vest, frozen drinks, or other measures to manage the heat.

Please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera.

Here is our Crested Kingfisher Field Report for August 7th.

5:17 AM — A juvenile male arrived from the right.

With the perfect combination of backlight and morning mist, we were able to capture beautiful perching shots!

He stayed perched for about 30 minutes, treating us to a variety of scenes.

· At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day.

· A note for our guests: The heat has been intense lately, and the inside of the hide can get very warm. Please prepare accordingly — a small fan, cooling wear, and frozen drinks are recommended.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

★★★ We were featured in the May 2026 issue of BIRDER magazine as the lead gravure spread ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. 7/12 — we hadn’t yet posted a Crested Kingfisher Shooting Base Report for this day, so here it is as an additional report.

Both adult male and female Crested Kingfishers arrived

Arrivals were considerably later than usual this day — the first came in at 5:52. On the plus side, it was already bright by then, making for easier shooting conditions! The male arrived first, followed by the female, who then treated us to a great many shutter opportunities.

At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

Please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Highlights from This Day　

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. Here is our Crested Kingfisher Field Report for July 9th.

4:12 AM — First Crested Kingfisher arrival of the day

Just like always, the bird arrived right on schedule.

Almost exactly on time. Knowing we need to finish setting up on location before this, our departure time keeps getting earlier and earlier.

It can’t be helped at this time of year^^;

The mornings are very early, but it’s a great season — let’s try getting up a little earlier!

After that, the female returned and made 3 hunting dives.

On the last dive, she just barely caught the fish (right by the tail), so she hovered while holding it in her bill and flew upward — then landed on the ground rather than a branch and started beating the fish against it.

Chick-rearing season is at its peak!

The Crested Kingfisher is visiting more frequently, making this the season with the most opportunities for observation and photography.

At Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field updates like this every day.

Please also check our Crested Kingfisher Guide page and availability calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights

★★★ We were featured in the May 2026 issue of BIRDER magazine as the lead gravure spread ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine — May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or online here!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※ Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for use during Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher sessions.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. Here is the Crested Kingfisher Shooting Base Report for 7/8.

4:38 AM — First arrival of the day

Arrivals came in at the usual time today — perhaps just a touch on the late side.

For some reason the male didn’t show up today, but the female treated us to three hunting dives from branch #1 — and even caught a nuptial-colored Japanese Rosy Bitterling!

The chick-rearing season has reached its peak!

Arrival frequency is on the rise — this is the season with the most opportunities for observation and photography. At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

Please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights　

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. Here is the Crested Kingfisher Shooting Base Report for 7/7 (Additional).

4:11 AM — First arrival of the day

Right on schedule again — arrivals came in at the usual time today.

Today the birds kept glancing up at the sky and never quite got around to hunting. Probably because a recently fledged Black Kite was calling loudly nearby….

The Crested Kingfisher fledglings should be making their first appearances at the base before long — we’re looking forward to it with great excitement! ^^

The chick-rearing season has reached its peak!

Arrival frequency is on the rise — this is the season with the most opportunities for observation and photography. At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

Please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights　

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. Here is the Crested Kingfisher Shooting Base Report for 7/6.

4:18 AM — First arrival of the day

Right on schedule again today — arrivals came in at the usual time.

Lately the pattern has been the female arriving first, followed by the male — consistently in that order!

The female is diving from branch #1 at a very high rate, and hovering with impressive frequency! This is a golden opportunity!!

The chick-rearing season has reached its peak!

Arrival frequency is on the rise — this is the season with the most opportunities for observation and photography. At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

Please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights　

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. Here is the Crested Kingfisher Shooting Base Report for 7/5.

4:12 AM — First arrival of the day

The birds arrived right on their usual schedule today.

Dives and hunting right from the start — arrivals at branches #3, #2, #1, and Zero.

Today the birds hunted nuptial-colored Japanese Rosy Bitterling twice! Our guest was so satisfied they said “I’m more than happy — let’s head back early and make the most of the travel time,” and set off for home well ahead of schedule. It was wonderful to hear. Feel free to stop by again on your way back from the north! ^^

The chick-rearing season has reached its peak!

Arrival frequency is on the rise — this is the season with the most opportunities for observation and photography. At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

Please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights　

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. Here is the Crested Kingfisher Shooting Base Report for 7/4.

This day was the second and final day of the Crested Kingfisher photography session organized by OM System.

Ootake Camera × OM SYSTEM Collaboration Event — Early Morning Crested Kingfisher Shoot, July 3 & 4, 2026

As this was our first time running an event like this, we did a rehearsal two days before and traced through the full two-day flow. We also received feedback surveys from participants, which we’ll put to good use for the next event!

4:06 AM — First arrival of the day

Considerably earlier than yesterday — the bird landed on branch #3 at 4:06 and the shoot was underway.

Once again we had plenty of shooting opportunities from early in the morning. With the heavy-rain turbidity settling down somewhat, the birds even treated us to some dives from branch #3.

Today the birds used branches #3, #1, and Zero.

The chick-rearing season has reached its peak!

Arrival frequency is on the rise — this is the season with the most opportunities for observation and photography. At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

If you are interested in photographing Crested Kingfishers, please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights　

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.

Hello! This is Ootake Camera. Here is the Crested Kingfisher Shooting Base Report for 7/3.

This day was the first of a two-day Crested Kingfisher photography session organized by OM System.

Ootake Camera × OM SYSTEM Collaboration Event — Early Morning Crested Kingfisher Shoot, July 3 & 4, 2026

We headed to Wakamatsu a little earlier than usual to pick up our guests, got everything sorted, and made our way to the site. Hoping the birds would show up as always, we slipped into the blind — and waited with some nervous anticipation, as the recent rains had raised the water level considerably.

4:27 AM — First arrival of the day

With rain again this morning, arrivals were slightly delayed, but around 4:30 a bird came in and landed on branch #3 — and the shoot was underway.

There were plenty of shooting opportunities from early on, and at branch #3 the bird showed up holding an impressively large nuptial-colored Japanese Rosy Bitterling!

After that there was a quiet spell of about three hours, then the birds returned and treated us to another enjoyable stretch of action. ^^

Today the birds used branches #3, #5, and Zero.

The chick-rearing season has reached its peak!

Arrival frequency is on the rise — this is the season with the most opportunities for observation and photography. At the Aizu Secret Base, we share real-time field conditions like these every day.

If you are interested in photographing Crested Kingfishers, please also visit our Yamasemi Guide Page and Availability Calendar.

■ Today’s Highlights　

★★★ We were featured in the opening gravure of BIRDER Magazine May 2026 issue ★★★

On sale April 14, 2026! Available at bookstores and online.

BIRDER Magazine May 2026 Issue

Amazon　Rakuten Books　FUJISAN (Subscription)

★★★ Our photo was selected for the cover of BIRDER Magazine December 2025 issue ★★★

On sale Friday, November 14, 2025!
Available at bookstores or via the links below!

Amazon　Rakuten Books

※Sessions are held rain or shine. A tent-style hide is planned for Crested Kingfisher and Ruddy Kingfisher tours.