Aransas Refuge Before the Winter Storm

I just finished three days with a group of 5 photographers at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.  Of course, we wanted to capture endangered Whooping Cranes (in the camera), but the trip was much more productive than we anticipated as you will see from the photos below.

We only had one good weather day, but we captured many, many images during the photo tour.  On the other hand, that’s why we always do at least three days…to improve our chances of getting at least one day with the right light and wind.  A monster winter storm blew in just as we concluded our third day of shooting.

Three weeks from now, I will be leading photography tours and workshops in Port Aransas for the Whooping Crane Festival.  If you haven’t signed up, do it now before they fill.  I look forward to seeing some of you there.  If not, maybe at Galveston’s NatureFest in April.

“Thank you” Paul Denman for repairing my WordPress template for the newsletters.  All of you Mac and PC users can now open the images by clicking in the upper right corner.  That will enlarge and brighten them.  Advance through the photos by clicking on the arrow at the right edge of each photo.

Whooping crane flashing his red crown at another crane.
Whooping crane flashing his red crown at another crane.

 

My Canon Mark IV is on its way to Canon for a second attempt at fixing something in the mirror assembly.  So, most of these images were done with the trusty 7D and Canon 500 mm IS lens.

Whooping cranes watching photographer while flying over marsh.
Whooping cranes watching photographer while flying over marsh.

 

Check out those eyes on the lead bird.  It watched us while flying across the marsh to challenge a group of juvenile birds feeding in his territory.

Whooper prepping a blue crab for breakfast.
Whooper prepping a blue crab for breakfast.

 

White Pelican yawning in mid-flight.
White Pelican yawning in mid-flight.
Colorful head of an American Oystercatcher from one of the oyster reefs in Aransas Bay.
Colorful head of an American Oystercatcher from one of the oyster reefs in Aransas Bay.

 

Brown Pelican resting on submerged piling in Aransas Bay.
Brown Pelican resting on submerged piling in Aransas Bay.
Sunset from Goose Island State Park.
Sunset from Goose Island State Park.

 

The shot above was done with a Canon 5D Mark II camera, Canon 24-105 mm lens, Gitzo Carbon Fiber tripod, Feisol ball head, electronic shutter release and mirror lockup.

I like to set the shutter speed to at least 1/2,000th second to freeze birds in flight.

Northern Pintail drake with strong tailwind is in high gear.
Northern Pintail drake with strong tailwind is in high gear.

 

Willet with a blue crab feast.
Willet with a blue crab feast.

 

American Bittern in mid-stride at Port Aransas Birding Park.
American Bittern in mid-stride at Port Aransas Birding Park.

 

Sora using those long toes to walk on floating cattail stems.
Sora using those long toes to walk on floating cattail stems.

 

Yellow-rumped Warblers  are common winter visitors to the Texas gulf coast.
Yellow-rumped Warblers are common winter visitors to the Texas gulf coast.

 

Light on the water after sunset at a northern shoveler swims into the photograph.
Light on the water after sunset at a northern shoveler swims into the photograph.

So, that’s the end of another great photography trip to the Texas coast.  Many thanks to Fulton’s “Hampton Inn” for wonderful accommodations and friendly service.

Special Note: For those of you who really want a change of scene and if you are looking for some new and elegant birds, try Kathy Clark’s photo tour to Costa Rica.  It’s coming up soon; get the details at her site ( www.KACProductions.com ).

Larry

Big Birds & Wind-shaped Oaks

Every year for the past decade of so, I’ve been showing photographers how and where to capture images of Texas’ largest bird, the endangered whooping crane.    The whooper trip offers a variety of photographic opportunities including water birds and coastal landscapes.

I’m doing two trips this winter, one in December and one in late January.  Both were filled, so this is a good time to make your reservation for next winter.  The photography, comradery, food and nice lodging at the Fulton Hampton Inn,  always leave us eager for the next trip.

Here are some images from the December excursion.  If you click in the upper right portion of an image, it will enlarge and sharpen.  From there, you can advance to the next image.  **  WordPress, which provides this template, is temporarily having problems showing the enlargements through Windows computers.  Most Mac computers are enlarging the images with no problems.  Of course, I’m hoping someone will come up with a fix in the next few days.

Whooping Crane pair feeding in the shallows of Sundown Bay.
Whooping Crane pair feeding in the shallows of Sundown Bay.

 

Whooping cranes landing in salt marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
Whooping cranes landing in salt marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.

 

Whooping cranes preening.
Whooping cranes preening.

 

Excited Whooping Crane chasing another bird from its feeding territory.
Excited Whooping Crane chasing another bird from its feeding territory.

 

"Backlighting" provided some nice feather color and rim-lighting effects on the 5' tall birds.
“Backlighting” provided some nice feather color and rim-lighting effects on the 5′ tall birds.

 

One whooper to another, "You can't stay this close while my mate and I are feeding".
One whooper to another, “You can’t stay this close while my mate and I are feeding”.

 

Part of my job is to get the photographers positioned and ready for that magic moment.  Occasionally, some coaching on camera and lens settings are helpful, too.

A half hour of patient observation paid off when the birds gave us great action.
A half hour of patient observation paid off when the birds gave us great action.

Our afternoons were dedicated to finding other birds and some pleasing landscapes for photo subjects.

These liveoaks have been shaped by decades of coastal winds blowing inland from the bay.
These liveoaks have been shaped by decades of coastal winds blowing inland from the bay.

 

Brown Pelicans are another of the big birds the present good action photography opportunities.
Brown Pelicans present good action photography opportunities on Aransas Bay.

 

While we try to get the exposure, focus and composition right, it is wing positioning that ultimately determines whether a  “bird-in-flight” photo is a pleasing capture.

Full moon rising behind the masts of pleasure boats moored at Fulton harbor.
Full moon rising behind the masts of pleasure boats moored in Fulton harbor.

 

Fishing pier at night, Fulton, Texas.
Fishing pier at night, Fulton, Texas.

Plan to join us next year.  Keep watching my Photo Tour schedule at www.larryditto.com  for an update later this spring.

Larry

 

New 2014 Post

** Those of you with PC s may not be able to enlarge the photos by clicking on them.  Apple users should have no difficulty.  I trust WordPress will quickly update the software to alleviate the problem by eliminating the shadow that appears over photos enlarged in Windows computers.

After the New Mexico workshop, shown in my last newsletter, I headed north to Wyoming for some bighorn sheep photography.  While the temperatures were below normal, we had plenty of warm clothing and encountered excellent photo ops.

sheep
Mature bighorn ram feeding on hillside.

In December, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep drift down from the Yellowstone to lower elevations.  Finding and photographing them can be a difficult in these cold climates, but the results are worth the effort.

Dominant bighorn ram (right) with younger male.
Dominant bighorn ram (right) with younger male.

Most of these images were made with the 100-400 mm lens, handheld.  I switched occasionally  to the 300 mm, f 4 lens for comparison, and was very happy with the performance of both considering it was -10 degrees or colder.

The dominant, mature ram occasionally left the ewes to keep the younger rams in line.
The dominant, mature ram occasionally left the ewes to keep the younger rams in line.

I was on foot in about 8″ of snow while making these images.

The young rams frequently fought among themselves by head butting.
The young rams frequently fought among themselves by head butting.
When the big rams joined the fight, the young guys scattered.
When the big rams joined the fight, the young guys scattered.

 

At below zero temperatures, the sheep do a lot of feeding.
At below zero temperatures, the sheep do a lot of feeding.

 

Ewe (female) and ram bedded.
Ewe (female) and ram bedded.
Large ram trying to scent ewes ready for breeding.
Large ram trying to scent ewes ready for breeding.

 

Mature bighorn ram approaching ewes during rut.
Mature bighorn ram approaching ewes during rut.

Rams would lower their heads and twist their necks when approaching ewes or chasing younger rams away from the ewes.

Mature ram approaching the herd during rut.
Mature ram approaching the herd during rut.

 

After feeding on a hillside, this ram headed into steep, rocky terrain.
After feeding on a hillside, this ram headed into steep, rocky terrain.

In the next newsletter, I’ll show you more bighorns and other wildlife we encountered in Wyoming.

Larry