Bird Photography Tour: Slovenia

Wildlife Photography Tour Slovenia: Floating Hides for Water Birds

8 Days | 16 August 2026 – 23 August 2026

Slovenia lies at the meeting point of the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Karst Plateau and the Pannonian Plain, creating one of Europe’s most diverse natural landscapes. Despite its small size, it supports over 380 bird species alongside iconic mammals such as brown bear, lynx and wolf.

This tour takes you to north-eastern Slovenia, to the wetlands of the Drava River and lagoons near Lake Ormož, an area renowned for its rich bird diversity, especially waterfowl – we will see an unprecedented number of common, rare and endangered species. Our focus is floating hide photography, offering a unique, eye-level perspective at the water’s surface. Far from your classic static hide, each photographer uses their own hide, gliding silently across the water to refine position, light, and composition without disturbing wildlife. It’s an immersive and fun way to photograph waterfowl! Award winning wildlife photographer and zoologist Louis Guillot will be leading the trip and sharing his tips and tricks.

If you want to move quietly through the water and photograph birds at true water level, join Nature Talks for a unique and creative wetland photography adventure in beautiful Slovenia.

What Birds May We See?

We’ll search for ferruginous duck, pygmy cormorant, grebes, purple and night herons, squacco heron, black-winged stilt, wood and green sandpipers, snipe, water rail, plovers, kingfisher, a range of terns and many more waders, ducks and other species. With luck, little bittern, spotted crake or ruff may also appear. Sometimes even white-tailed eagles are spotted here.

Why Floating Hides Are So Special for Bird Photography

One thing we hear time and time again from our guests is just how much fun floating hides are to use. They’re immersive, hands-on, and because you’re actively moving and adjusting your position, it often feels far less like a waiting game than a classic hide session.

What makes them so unique when it comes to photographing water birds is the complete freedom and entirely different perspective they provide. You’ll be right at water level, eye-to-eye with the birds, quietly gliding across the surface without disturbing them, each of you in control of your own hide.

According to the best light and composition, you can fine-tune your hide’s position or gently move closer if something exciting is happening further away. Birds will often come incredibly close too, giving you fantastic opportunities for intimate portraits and even unique wide-angle images that simply aren’t possible from land.

How to Use Floating Hides – No Experience Needed

We’ve had guests of all abilities join this trip, so if it’s your first time, there’s really nothing to worry about. Before you get in the water, we’ll give you a full briefing and stay with you until you feel completely comfortable and confident using the hides.

The main thing you need to be happy with is stepping into a pair of neoprene waders – your legs will be in the water as you gently move and steer the hide. They’re actually very comfortable, and in August especially, the water can feel really refreshing and helps cool you down. If you’d rather, you can also go for board shorts instead – lots of guests do.

Each session lasts around 4 to 5 hours, and you’ll have 6 full days out in the floating hides during the trip.

As for the setup, it’s straightforward: your camera is securely mounted onto the floating hide using your own tripod head. You stand in the water, lightly support yourself on the hide, and then use your body to guide it quietly and smoothly across the surface.

Birds in Their Natural Habitat

The floating hides couldn’t be a more immersive way to photograph waterfowl in their natural environment. That said, we’re still very much in their world, so even though the hides are quiet and non-intrusive, we will follow a few simple rules and keep a respectful distance to avoid any disturbance.

In August, the shallow waters are beautifully overgrown with aquatic plants, including flowering water lilies, which add lots of character to your photos. You’ll often see smaller species using the lilies as resting spots, hunting perches, or even stepping stones across the water. Just imagine a grebe lifting off with a frog in its beak, framed by lush vegetation.

Expert Bird Guides and Extra Opportunities on Land

In addition to the floating hides, there are plenty of other photography opportunities during the trip. There are permanent photo hides in the woods for different species, and in some cases, if something special is spotted, a temporary hide can be set up so you can get the shot.

Our local guides are real experts at finding key species, from pygmy owl and various woodpeckers to goldcrest, black tit, grey shrike, bee-eater and hoopoe. They’re out in the field throughout the day and always on hand if something interesting is happening – you can reach them anytime by phone, so you don’t miss any opportunities.

Meet your Photography Guide

Louis Guillot is a wildlife photojournalist and zoologist based in London, UK. A member of the International League of Conservation Photographers, his work has been published in Forbes, BBC Wildlife Magazine, and Terre Sauvage, and recognised in competitions including Nature Photographer of the Year, MontPhoto, and the British Wildlife Photography Awards. When asked about his favourite animals, Louis says: “I can’t pick one thing, I love everything from ants to hummingbirds to larger mammals and parasitic wasps. I tend to focus on one subject for ages, then move on before eventually coming back again.”

More about Louis.

What We Offer You

• Six full days of floating hide photography.
• A unique chance to photograph waterbirds at eye level, including spotted crake, woodcock, purple heron, night heron, squacco heron, various grebe species and many more.
• Excellent opportunities to photograph recently fledged birds as they begin to explore independently.
• We focus on the best light of the day: early mornings and late afternoons into sunset.
• Guided throughout by a professional nature photographer, supported by experienced local wildlife and photography experts.
• Inflatable floating hides and neoprene waders are fully provided.
• Immersive, untouched wetland landscapes in north-eastern Slovenia.
• Regular image reviews and feedback sessions to help develop your photography and new ideas throughout the trip.
• Alongside the floating hides, there are opportunities to use permanent photo hides or head out with a local ranger in search of species such as kingfisher or pygmy owl.
• A pre-trip participant meeting to prepare and get to know the group.

Is This Trip for You

• You’ve always dreamed of spending a full week immersed in stunning natural wetlands, photographing wild birds from a floating hide.
• You enjoy the idea of truly being part of the environment – legs in the water, cooling off in the warm Slovenian summer while you photograph birds.
• You haven’t yet experienced the wildlife that Slovenia has to offer.
• You don’t need to be an experienced photographer. There will be plenty of opportunities to take your skills to the next level, with guidance from a professional photographer and support from experienced local experts. A basic understanding of bird behaviour is helpful, but not essential.
• If you’ve never used a floating hide before, that’s absolutely fine – we’ll support you every step of the way until you feel completely comfortable.
• For more advanced photographers, the trip still offers excellent photographic experiences and opportunities to get more creative with species you may or may not have photographed before.
• You enjoy travelling and photographing alongside a small group of like-minded people.
• The booking is based on a shared twin room, but for a small additional fee you can book a single room.