I’ve been given information that certain stretches of the river have beavers along them, so I wanted to go down there myself, take a look at the area, check the flow of the river, look for any signs of activity, and scout potential shooting locations—particularly how the light might fall at dusk.

Today wasn’t really about shooting, although I took my Nikon Z8 and 400mm f/4.5 with me for any chance encounters. I recently discussed my full wildlife photography setup in this article and reviewed the Nikon Z8.

Why I Took the 400mm f/4.5

This combination is so light for what it delivers that I can just attach it to my Peak Design Slide Lite strap—one end on the tripod collar, the other on the camera—and sling it over my shoulder. I barely even feel the weight of it.

A prime 400mm lens doesn’t immediately seem like the most flexible option for a scouting walk, but there are a couple of reasons I was happy to head out with it.

First, it’s a brighter lens than my 180–600mm, which helps on dull, overcast days like today. Second, it’s extremely sharp and crops well. With the Z8’s DX mode, I can get a 600mm equivalent field of view and still have a 20MP file.

So although it’s a prime, on the Z8 it becomes a pretty flexible, lightweight, weather-sealed setup.

A Change of Plan

At this time of year, the sun is rising around 6am here in the Scottish Highlands, but realistically I just don’t have enough time to get out and shoot and get back home in time for family duties.

By the time I’ve got Sofia up, ready for school, and I’m back home again, I’m lucky to get out before 9:30am. That will change as the Sun rises earlier as we head towards June.

So rather than heading out with a full bag of gear hoping for good light, I decided to use the time to scout. I’ve been doing the same thing with the Nikon Z8 for landscape photography recently.

First Impressions of the Location

This walk follows the river closely, moving through woodland and passing both fast-flowing sections and slower, calmer stretches.

Within 10 minutes of starting, I spotted a red squirrel off to my right, moving between two large trees about 25 metres away.

He was low down at first, darting between trunks. I swung the camera up and managed to grab focus almost instantly, catching a few shots through the gaps in the trees.

I was a bit too far away at 400mm, so while my mum watched through binoculars, I moved slightly closer and adjusted my angle as he worked his way higher into the canopy.

The best shot came as he moved along a branch towards me. I started with wide-area AF (L), but there were simply too many branches obscuring everything so I switched to single-point using a custom button to lock him in. A quick burst at 20fps and I had something I was happy with, especially given the flat light and busy background.

I stopped shooting for a moment after that and just watched him properly. It’s something I try to do more of—put the camera down once I’ve got the shot.

I did try for a silhouette against the sky, but the branches made it difficult. Still, I managed something usable before he disappeared deeper into the trees.

How the Area Feels

As we continued along the path, what stood out most was how quiet it is.

A couple of walkers, one runner, but otherwise just the wind in the trees and the river moving beside us.

That’s always a good sign.

Z8 + 400mm in Use

What really struck me again is how manageable this setup is.

It doesn’t feel much bigger or heavier than my OM-1 Mark II with the 100–400mm. I could comfortably carry this all day, even if photography wasn’t the main reason for being out.

Autofocus is noticeably faster than the 180–600mm. That lens is already good, but the 400mm f/4.5 feels instant.

It wasn’t all perfect though.

At one point, a robin landed very close to me—too close, in fact. The lens couldn’t focus at that distance, and by the time I tried to adjust manually, it was gone.

Signs of Beaver Activity

Further along, the river slowed and I started noticing what looked like mud slides leading into the water.

These are almost certainly used by beavers.

On the near bank, there are some excellent vantage points, with trees that would make good cover. It’s easy to see how I could position myself here at the right time of day and stay hidden.

This is exactly what I was hoping to find.

Conditions and Practical Use

As the rain started to come in, I just left the camera hanging at my side.

Both the Z8 and 400mm handled it without any issue, which is what I expect at this point.

It’s a setup that doesn’t get in the way. You can just carry it and forget about it until you need it.

The Walk Back

On the return leg, the path moves away from the river and back through woodland.

There are early signs of spring starting to show—crocuses coming through and small patches of blossom appearing.

We also spotted three roe deer in the distance, a couple of red kites overhead, and an overly friendly sheepdog that insisted I throw his stick for him.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t a shoot.

It was a recce.

But it feels like a good one.

The location has potential—quiet, varied, and with clear signs of activity. More importantly, I now know where I need to be, and roughly when.

I’ll be back here at dawn or dusk next time.