Things have been pretty hectic in recent weeks. So much so that I’m way behind schedule on this newsletter.
I’ve been preparing for a hummingbird workshop which we just finished this past weekend at the Barnhart Q5 Ranch near Berclair. The ranch was beautiful, our hosts were gracious and the wildflowers were blooming. Unfortunately or fortunately, all of south Texas was abloom with Indian Paintbrush flowers. Guess what the hummers were doing? They weren’t at our feeders although by late March in most years, over 100 hummingbirds are swarming the ranch’s feeders. I’ll be hosting another workshop there in late May and I’m confident we will fill a lot of cards with ruby-throated, black-chinned and maybe even rufous hummingbird photos.
Two weeks ago, I visited one of Jack McClelland’s ranches at Junction to help him lay out a nature photography operation. He plans to construct photo blinds and make the ranch photographer friendly. We saw lots of birds including vermilion flycatchers, wild turkey, chipping sparrows, and a few other species in spite of the freezing weather and snow that beset us. It is one of the prettiest areas in the hill country. The ranch should be ready for photographers by next fall. Actually, Jack is getting two sites ready for photographers. He also owns Koyote Ranch resort between Medina and Kerrville and it is being readied for photographers, too.
Waterbirds are nesting in the Laguna Madre. It doesn’t look like the cold spring has slowed down their breeding at all. Great blue herons and reddish egrets were the first to get started with some nesting in late February.
*** Remember, you can click on a photo to make it enlarge for better viewing. Then, you can click in the upper right area of the photo to advance to the next photo.
Great Blue Herons were nesting by late February. This shot was with a 500 mm Canon IS lens and Canon 1D Mark III camera on a Gitzo CF tripod and Wimberley head.
Great Blue Heron pair sitting calmly in a cold March fog.
This Reddish Egret was displaying to everybird that came close. It appeared to be defending a potential nest site or territory rather than trying to attract a mate.
Coreopsis and Phlox photographed with large telephoto to isolate one bloom.
During the last week of March, the Berclair cemetary between Beeville and Goliad was covered in wildflowers. This shot was done with a 16-35 mm Canon lens with polarizer at sunrise.
At a historic cowboy cemetary near Sarita on the lower Texas coast, wildflowers covered the landscape between graves.
Several old cowboy graves in the Kenedy Ranch cemetary had lichen covered, wood crosses weathering in the sun.
Chipping Sparrows and house finches quickly found a feeder hung at a Junction, Texas ranch house. It shows how little effort is required to attract songbirds when good habitat is nearby.
Three pair of vermilion were occupying nesting territories within 200 yards of a Junction, Texas ranch yet the owner had never noticed them. Photographers can introducing landowners to the important role they plan in habitat conservation.
Love the herons wish I was closer to get them nesting too. The isolated flower looks awesome….need to get out and do more landscapes, I’ve discovered the power of Green Screen Technology….downloaded Green Screen Wizard last night and had a blast with my great-niece and nephew…..it’s fun…..continue to be blessed and keep shooting…..sgs
Gorgeous birds Larry. Thanks for the discussion on breeding pairs – blue herons are an elegant bird and they made for classic portraits. The flowers are very cool too. We also spotted your isolated flower – keep us posted.