Happy New Year, everybody!
If your weather has been like ours, you’ve spent most of December and January at the computer or doing chores indoors. I made it out for a few days in December to lead a small group of photographers on a three day photo trip to the Santa Clara Ranch (www.santaclararanch.com) northwest of McAllen. We mostly photographed birds and mammals around small ponds with feeders located nearby. The weather was not helpful, so things were a little slow, but we got some nice shots. Since then, I’ve been back to the ranch a couple of afternoons and out to South Padre Island once. There was one sunny day right in the middle of Christmas school recess, so there were more people than birds around the boardwalk at the island. Fortunately, we had photographed for two hours before many started to filter out from the motels or their grandmas’ kitchens.
Monday, I’m headed to Rockport for whooping crane photography. I hear the number are ok in light of last winter’s stressful drought. We will have a boat load of photographers on Tuesday and Wednesday. The second session was cancelled for lack of photographers. I assume people are still feeling the affects of the recession.
Here are some of photographs from the past month or so:
This male Common Yellowthroat was feeding in the bush near our blind during the South Texas Ranch Photo Tour. One of the other photographers got a nice photo as the bird came to drink.
This White-eyed Vireo appeared at the Santa Clara Ranch afternoon blind for a bath and drink during the ranch photo tour.
Dr. Beto Gutierrez, owner of Santa Clara Ranch, has been placing owl boxes throughout the ranch and the owls are finding them.
This Greater Roadrunner came to ranch "morning" blind to do his sunning, such as it was.
One of my favorite shots during the ranch photo tour came when a covey of northern bobwhite quail showed up to feed and drink. By reading this guy's body language, I was able to fire the instant he began this wing stretch.
My first shot of the morning at South Padre Island was of this Black-crowned Night-Heron waiting for a Snowy Egret to pass.
This Great Blue Heron was sunning on a low levee just a few feet from the night-heron.
Lucky for me, it took this Brown Pelican a while to get airborne. It made several splashes before clearing he water.
This pelican was landing at a fishing pier in South Padre Island. The palm trees gave the shot a nice "sense of place".
This South Padre Island osprey spent most of the morning drying his feathers and preening. I waited about 45 minutes to get this take-off shot, but it was worth the wait.
The South Padre Island photo trip ended about 11:00 AM (I normally quit shooting seriously about 9:00 AM) because the light was harsh and the tourists were taking over the boardwalk. At the last moment, this snowy egret came along and offered a nice reflection. I love the yellow foot coming out of the water.
That’s about it for this week. Meanwhile, don’t forget the South Padre Island spring bird migration photo workshop. It’s on my web site photo tour schedule. Also, note that the City of McAllen is hosting a three day nature photography workshop April 15-17. You can find the details for registration at www.mcallenchamber.com.
I’m hoping to have some nice whooping crane shots for you in a few days.
Larry
As always, great stuff…..can’t decide which is my fav…..they are all so good….but I’m always partial to Osprey for some unknow reason….thanks for sharing Larry….been working on the Birding Festival presentation. Got Microsoft Word yesterday and it’s amazing how easy it is to do a slide show….now I have to add music….hmmmmmm….be blessed and have a grand time “shooting” Whoopers….sgs
Thanks, Sylvia. Good luck with your presentation. Someday, I’ve got to add music to my talks.