Bird photography with a mobile phone and spotting scope on La Palma
Summary
A personal introduction to digiscoping for 1–2 people: photograph birds with your own phone through a professional spotting scope. You need no camera and no prior experience. 3–4 hours, with a complete Kite Optics set for each participant. We agree on the location together after booking.
Description
What it’s about
In digiscoping, your phone sits on an adapter behind the eyepiece of a spotting scope. The scope magnifies and your phone takes the picture. This lets you photograph birds at distances your phone camera can’t reach on its own.
How it works
You work hands-on with the equipment the whole time. You learn to mount your phone on the adapter, align it and focus, and which settings on your phone work best. Above all, you practise finding a bird, getting it into the scope and keeping it in the frame.
With no more than two or three of us, the pace is yours. If you get the hang of it quickly, we move on to harder subjects sooner. If you’d rather take your time, you can.
Where we work
We decide that together after you book. La Palma has a different place for every group of species: the Fuencaliente salt flats for waders and Berthelot’s pipit, La Suallera organic farm for the laurel pigeon, kestrel and the island’s garden birds, the laurel forest at Barlovento for Bolle’s pigeon and the woodland species, the Barranco de las Angustias for the grey wagtail.
Your own accommodation is an option too. If you’ve rented a finca with plenty of bird activity, we work there — often the most relaxed choice of all.
Which location is right depends on the season, the weather, your experience and what you want to photograph. That’s why I get in touch after your booking and ask.
Equipment
Each participant gets their own Kite Optics set: spotting scope, tripod, phone adapter and stabilised binoculars. You choose your scope:
- KSP 80 HD2 (25–50x): high-end spotting scope
- SP 85 HD (20–60x)
- APC 60 ED (17–35x): image-stabilised, great for videos and reels
All you need to bring is your phone, sturdy shoes and clothing suited to the season.
Duration and time
3–4 hours, usually starting at 9:00. Once we’ve agreed on the spot, I’ll send you the meeting point and the Google Maps pin. You arrange your own transport, and the time starts at the meeting point.
Included
- Personal instruction by Ulrich Götz Roth (DE / ES / EN)
- Your own Kite Optics set for each participant
Not included
- Transport and accommodation
- Food and drinks
- The entrance fee, if we decide on La Suallera organic farm
