SUFFOLK OWL SANCTUARY
I’m going to let you in to a secret
Looking at some of my bird photography, you may think that I sit out in the wild, waiting for hours on end to get photographs of passing birds of prey plonking themselves down in front of my camera.
Nope! The truth is that most of these images are captured at one of my favourite locations for photography, The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is located at Stonham Barns in Stonham Aspel. Full details, including its exact location can be found at the bottom of this page
This is the first of many of my favourite photography destinations that I will be sharing, shining a light on some great locations that will help you capture some awesome images.
About Suffolk Owl Sanctuary
The Sanctuary was established as a registered charity in 2001 and they offer facilities for the care and rehabilitation of Owls and other birds of prey from the region. They have a vast array of birds of prey including Eagles, Owls and Vultures housed in their spacious grounds. The Raptor hospital is also located on site, where they look after the injured birds and nurse them back to full health when possible. They often post videos on their social media of the rehabilitated birds being released back into the wild, which is testament to the care and love that they show these injured birds.
My favourite thing about the sanctuary is that they have twice daily flying displays in peak season (weather dependant). During which, the Falconers put on an amazing show of the birds flying abilities. The staff conducting these displays are just as skillful as the birds themselves and it’s clear that an immense amount of time and effort has gone in to working with these amazing creatures.
Great for photographers of all skill levels
If you are into photography, these displays are the perfect opportunity to capture some amazing images as the Falconers will get some of the birds to fly within inches of the crowd and often get them to perch very close to the seating area. This gives you the perfect opportunity to get some great shots, and if you have a zoom lens you’ll be able to get some cracking close-ups.
The sanctuary also runs photography workshops that will help you get the best images possible. These can be booked here
Alternatively, if you’d like any tips or tricks on how to get better images, feel free to contact me via my contact page and I will try and help you.
Fun for all the family
If you’re not in to photography, the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary still makes for an amazing trip out. Every time I have visited, the crowds have always been blown away by the flying displays. There are also lots of things for kids as well as an educational department that does a great job teaching children about birds of prey and wildlife. If you’re a fan of Meerkats, they also have Meerkat Kastle that houses several of these adorable blighters.
Prices are as followed:
Adult £11.50
Children (4-16 Years) £8.50
Concessions £8.50
Family (5 Persons) £39.00
Annual pass from £20
Free Parking
Prices correct at time of publishing
Supporting the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary
There are many ways of supporting the sanctuary, including donations volunteering and sponsoring (including business sponsors)
There is also a gift shop in the main entrance which sells a wide range of cuddly toys, paintings and merchandise.
Please follow them on social media to keep up to date with all their news and events
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