All posts by lditto

Bosque del Apache, Migrants & Hummingbirds

It looks like photographers are ready to head into the wilds again.  The Whooping Crane and the Big Bend Photo tours are full now, although we could handle one or two more at Big Bend.  The Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge trip has room for one or two more.  If you read this and remember you have indicated an interest in that trip, let me know right away.  Some photographers have said they intend to go, but they didn’t sign up.  The time is close enough that I need to get a solid count of everyone who intends to go.

Although we have seen few signs of bird migration here in McAllen, I have been lucky enough to capture a few hummingbird images.    Last Monday was a good day at South Padre Island (SPI) where Steve Sinclair and I caught the tail end of a good migration weekend.  Here are some images from the hummer and SPI shoots.

Click on a photo in the upper right zone and it will enlarge and sharpen for you.  From there, you can advance through the photos.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird working Turk's cap flowers at Edinburg World Birding Center.

 

I was focused on the Turk’s cap (above) when a buff-bellied hummingbird flew between me and the flower and I tripped the shutter.  The result was this silhouette of a bird in the shadows between me and the Turk’s cap.

Buff-bellied Hummingbird working the flowers at Edinburg World Birding Center.

 

Female roseate skimmers resting on yucca blades.

Ruby-throated hummingbird male feeding.

 

The shot above is a male ruby-throated hummingbird with durante bush bloom super-imposed with it.  The hummers feed at this plant, so I decided to see how well this technique works.  One needs to be more careful than I was in blending subjects.  The size ratios, focus and lighting need to be compatible.

Epidonax flycatcher at South Padre Island on October 1. This may be a yellow-bellied flycatcher.

 

Female American redstart foraging in the tepeguaje trees at South Padre Island.

 

Lots of Wilson's warblers were in coastal habitats last week.

 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird stretching in a South Padre Island tree.

 

White ibis and mottled ducks going to roost at the World Birding Center marsh on South Padre Island.

 

Roseate spoonbill feeding with the blurred edge of a golden rod bloom in the foreground.

 

Black-necked stilts feeding at sunset on South Padre Island.

 

American bittern in the South Padre Island marsh at sunset.

 

The American bittern (above) was working through the marsh at South Padre Island last Monday afternoon.  For me, this was the best sighting of the day.

 

Brown pelicans heading onto the Laguna Madre to roost.

 

The last photo of the day at South Padre Island was shot through cattails as a group of brown pelicans headed into the sunset to roost on the Laguna Madre.

Let me know if you want to shoot cranes, geese, ducks, hawks and more at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge on December 2-4.

Larry

South Padre Island Rainbows

Yesterday, Allen Dale and I headed out to South Padre Island with telephotos in hand with the hope of finding some migrant birds.  For new birds, the morning was a total bomb, but the trip was not a loss.  I had grabbed my backpack with landscape equipment (almost as an afterthought) when I left home.  What a stroke of good fortune that was.

Just as we arrived at the island, a light rain began falling, then the sun popped through the clouds.  As the mist moved out over the Laguna Madre, a fantastic double-rainbow appeared.  I raced (at tortoise speed) to the car, grabbed my Canon 5D Mark II and 24-105 lens with polarizing filter.  The rainbow lasted almost 30 minutes, which was enough time to capture the Convention Center and then the Laguna Madre marsh in the best light.

If you have ever photographed rainbows with a polarizing filter on the lens, you know it can make the color pop.  The landscapes below were done while hand-holding the camera at ISO 200.

When the morning weather event ended, we wound up on the boardwalk with the bird photo equipment and captured some young least bitterns moving about the cattails.

* For best viewing, click in the upper right portion of a photo.  It will enlarge and sharpen the shot.

Whale Wall at the South Padre Island Convention Center with rainbow.

 

Laguna Madre marsh and rainbow.

 

Back Porch at the Convention Center and rainbow.

 

Curious young Least Bitterns on the hunt.

 

Young Least Bittern balancing on a cattail leaf.

 

I’m hoping to get a few ruby-throated hummingbird photos on our back porch today, but the migration is pretty slow…so far.

Larry

 

West Texas Hummingbird Workshop

August is the month for migrating hummingbirds in west Texas’ Davis Mountains.  The trouble is, one needs to photograph there for the entire month to pick up all the species possibilities.   So, we probably missed some rare visitor or two from the west, but  during the 4 workshop days calliope, black-chinned and rufous visited the set .  Photographing in a private garden near Davis Mountains State Park, we had access to good bird numbers.  Even a shy, gray fox made one or two appearances.

The weather was great, with highs in the mid-80s and lows in the upper 50s and occasional afternoon thundershowers.  I believe it was the rain that brought in fresh birds almost everyday.  The beautiful mountains, colorful garden and a fair number of birds made the week delightful.

The photographers used a 5 flash setup to capture wing-stopping images part of the time.  Then everyone enjoyed trying to photograph hummers, without flash, at feeders, perches and flowers.  Both methods had their rewards and challenges.  Check out the images below and decide for yourself which you prefer.

 

Don’t forget to click in the upper right portion of a photo to make it larger and sharper, and to move on to the next photograph.

Black-chinned hummingbird feeding on nectar at red flowers with a the multi-flash setup.

 

Shots like these (above and below) stop the action in 1/12,000 second.

 

Female black-chinned hummer feeding at garden flowers at the setup.

 

Ever present honey bees were well represented among the photos.

 

When multiple flowers were in the set up, bees and birds were able to share.

 

Capturing two or more birds in a single photo always presents a challenge.

 

It took about 60 images to capture the bumble bee and hummingbird in just the right spot and with good wing position on the bird.

 

The shot above was made in the garden at ISO 1600, 1/640 second, f 4 with natural, early morning light using a Canon 1D Mark IV and 500 mm IS lens.

Desert Willow blooms were a big attraction for hummingbirds.

 

By hanging a feeder about 1' off the ground, under a low tree branch, we attracted this hungry male calliope hummingbird.

 

The male calliope was significantly smaller than the black-chinned hummers, but he could hold his own at the feeder.
Afternoon showers kept the plants green and the air cool.

 

These photos were taken from the front yard hummingbird/butterfly garden at our workshop location near Fort Davis.

Early morning in the Davis Mountains, Texas

 

Hungry gray fox on the prowl after sunset.

 

A high-pitched squeak stopped this gray fox in his tracks for a few quick shots.

 

Male black-chinned hummingbird hovering near a feeder in natural light. ISO 1000, 1/500 second @ f4, natural light.

 

Adult female rufous hummingbird caught while hovering near a feeder... ISO 640, 1/800 second @ f4.

 

Finding the right natural background can help the photographer create a shot like this.

 

Adult male rufous hummingbird hovering at a feeder.

 

While black-chinned hummingbirds were abundant during our workshop, only one full adult male rufous appeared during the 4 day event, however, several nice juvenile and female birds almost made up for the shortage of males.

Rufous hummingbird with the shadow of a car port for the background at sunrise.

 

I hope you enjoyed this little visit to the world of west Texas hummingbirds.

 

Larry

Beautiful Whitetails

Last week, I was in Sinton, Texas at the Welder Wildlife Foundation to help judge the Coastal Bend Wildlife Photography Contest.  The three judges and an alternate, Mike Sloat, Kathy Adams Clark, Jay Goodrich and me got an hour of free time at sunrise each morning to make a few images of our own.  To make the most of that hour, we parked Mike’s big Dodge Pickup at a windmill pond and waited for the wildlife (mostly white-tailed deer) to come to us.

Here are some of my images, including shots of the largest, free-ranging, naturally fed whitetail buck of my life:

* Remember, you can click on a photo to make it larger and sharper for viewing.  Then click in the upper right hand area of a photo to advance.

Does feeding at sunrise

Big buck jumping fence.

 

Bucks check for danger before approaching the marsh.

 

One last look around before drinking.

 

Fawns and does visit a marsh at sunrise.

 

Doe and fawn in the marsh.

 

Frisky fawn jumping everything in sight.

 

Fawn standing in marsh surrounded by colorful rushes, grasses and forbs.

 

Alert doe crossing a small prairie for water.

 

Rotating...some drink while others remain alert.

 

Doe passing large huisache tree at sunrise.
Photographers at the truck had to remain motionless until the deer were satisfied it was safe to drink.

 

A howling coyote startled these bucks before they could get a drink.

 

Big Daddy and a regular buck emerging from the shadows.

 

A shady mesquite highlights the velvet-covered antlers of a majestic buck.

 

Pot-bellied buck with some impressive antlers.

 

Giant whitetail coming to water.

 

*** Go online to www.nanpa.org and see how to sign up for their regional photography event in Laredo, Texas on October 10-13.  Kathy Adams Clark, Sean Fitzgerald and I will lead photography groups to several Laredo area ranches with photo blinds.  You won’t believe how cheap it is, especially if you sign up before September 1 and you don’t have to be a member of NANPA to participate.

Bobcat drinking at a photo blind pond on a south Texas ranch.

 

It has been awhile since I got to photograph wildlife without aid of a blind and it was invigorating to watch so many deer at the Welder Wildlife Foundation ranch.  Since the Welder is dedicated to wildlife and range research, you and I normally can’t photograph there.  My thanks to the station managers for inviting the Coastal Bend Photo Contest folks to use their facilities for judging.  We judges felt blessed to have the opportunity to make these little forays along their back roads.

Larry

 

 

Hummingbird Workshop Coming Soon

On the 23rd of August, I will be doing a hummingbird workshop in the Davis Mountains, Texas.  That is the peak of the fall hummingbird migration and I expect they will be colorful and hungry.  We will be photographing with a multi-flash setup in a private hummingbird garden.  That’s right, we’ll have it all to ourselves (no more than 3 photographers/day).  Many other birds will be, too, so we are expecting great success.  Just drop me an email if you are interested; there are still some slots available.

Otherwise, I’ve spent a couple of recent afternoons in south Texas photo blinds.  The best surprise was getting good shots of a yell0w-billed cuckoo.  They don’t leave the deep vegetation and shade very often, but when it’s hot, they come to water during the day.

Remember, you can click in the upper right portion of a photo to get a larger, sharper view.  then you can advance from there to the next photo.

Male rufous hummingbirds should be arriving in the Davis Mountains in mid-late August.

I will have backgrounds, flashes, flowers and chairs ready when the photographers arrive for the Davis Mountains Hummingbird Workshop.  Everybody will get several species and many different hummingbird wing positions in good lighting.

Wing position makes the shot.

 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo drinking at Santa Clara Ranch.

 

Yellow-billed Cuckoos are pretty wary, but after the first few shutter clicks, they settle in for a drink.  This guy waded into the pool, but didn’t bathe.  It just set down in the water to cool off.

Painted Bunting panting as it perches next to a ranch pond.
Painted Bunting panting as it perches next to a ranch pond.

 

Groove-billed Ani checking for danger as it approaches pond.

 

Juvenile Blue Grosbeak looking for water.

 

For some reason, we’ve only been seeing juvenile blue grosbeaks at the photo ranch ponds.  I know there are beautiful blue males around, but I haven’t been lucky enough to photograph one this summer.

Hackberry Emperor butterfly sunning on granjeno bush at sunrise.

It has been too dry for a good butterfly hatch this summer, but I have seen several Emperors and Sulphurs on the ranches.  October will be the best time for butterflies in our area.

I hope all of you are getting nice photo opportunities, especially those of you who are lucky enough head north to Canada or to other cool locations.

Larry

 

Mercy, It’s Hot!

As I passed through the village of McCook west of Edinburg, Texas on Saturday at 4:00 PM, the Durango’s thermometer (which is accurate) read 110 degrees.  A few miles west of there at the Santa Clara Ranch, the temperature was a moderate 108 degrees.  These hot June days always bring lots of birds and other critters to the photo blind waterholes.  Within an hour, I was in the blind #3 with ranch owner, Dr. Alberto (Beto) Gutierrez, and our friend, Hector Astorga.  The bird activity was fast and furious until sundown, but the whirring cameras didn’t bother those thirsty birds one bit.

The best bird of the afternoon was a yellow-billed cuckoo which visited the pond three or four times.  We also enjoyed photographing roadrunner, Bullock’s oriole, blue grosbeak, painted bunting, ground dove, pyrrhuloxia, olive sparrow, black-throated sparrow, Couch’s kingbird, bronzed cowbird, thrashers and lots of mockingbirds.  A very pregnant white-tailed doe visited the pond as did some thirsty ground squirrels.

I sat there with a damp Endura Sports Towel (from Lowes) over my head and never broke a sweat despite the scorching heat.  Beto was skeptical until I loaned him my Academy sports towel.  With it around his neck, he remained relatively cool, as well.  I’m not doing commercial ads for sports towels, but they are so-o-o effective I just have to tell you.  Larry and Sharron Jay from the Block Creek Natural Area put me onto the cooling towels about a month ago.

Other recent photo outings took me to the Falcon State Park butterfly garden on Falcon Lake and to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge for nesting Altamira orioles.  So, the following photos include shots from all three shoots.  I hope you enjoy them.

 

Altamira Oriole with a fat katydid for the young orioles.

The landing shot was done at 1/4000 second.

 

Altamira oriole leaving the nest after feeding young.

 

As most of you know by now, I made these images with the Canon 1D Mark IV, 500 mm Canon lens and Wimberley head on a Feisol carbon fiber tripod.  The take off shot was done at 1/1200 second.

 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo flinching as a bee passes.
Cuckoo tipping its head up to swallow.

 

Common Ground-Doves mating

 

Northern mockingbird following a blue grosbeak to the water's edge.

 

Thirsty greater roadrunner scooping water.

 

Beautiful male Pyrrhuloxia panting as it reaches the pond edge.

 

The following images were made with a Canon 7D and 300 mm canon lens mounted with an Arca Swiss Monoball on the Feisol carbon fiber tripod.

 

Large Orange (sulphur) butterfly landing at a flower.

 

Katydid camouflaged in garden vegetation.

 

Note how the katydid mimics the form of it supporting plant.

 

White Peacock feeding at lantana blooms.

 

I hope it’s cool enough for you to get outside with the camera.  For the next two months, I’ll be at the computer and judging the Coastal Bend Photography Contest in Corpus Christi.

 

Larry

 

June Birds and Insects

 Most of the photographs I made in June were done near water where thirsty birds gather in late afternoon.  The exception was a pair of Altamira orioles nesting on Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in the longest oriole nest I’ve ever seen.  Their young should be fledging today, so I guess it will be another year before I get to watch the golden birds building another incredible nest.

Some of the following shots are files I lifted from past folders.  I think you saw the mud dauber photographs about two years ago.  You didn’t see some of the images that showed other wasps, hornets and such buzzing around the mud daubers’ heads.

Some of the following photos were done at the Laguna Seca Ranch last week.  It was extremely hot for photography, but  most of the birds visited the pond in late afternoon.  We got painted buntings, Bullock’s orioles, great kiskadees, groove-billed anis, and several other species.  All of the south Texas photo ranches are productive when the weather turns warm (above 90).

Don’t forget to click in the upper right portion of a photo to make it larger and sharper for viewing.  You can click through the photos by going to the upper right area of each and clicking on “next”.

 

Altamira oriole bringing food to its young.

Approximately half of the oriole nest above is visible in this photo with a landing adult.  The nest is approximately 20 feet up in a hackberry tree.  Altamira orioles always build their nest on the northwest side of a tree to avoid the strong, prevailing southeast winds of northeast Mexico and south Texas.

Adult altamira oriole leaving the nest.

 

Brown-crested flycatcher marching to water, south Texas.

 

These photos were made at Santa Clara Ranch west of Edinburg, Texas.

 

Greater roadrunner taking a dust bath.
greater roadrunner after dust bath.

 

Greater roadrunner enjoys a cool drink at the Santa Clara Ranch.

 

Hornets attending a mud-gathering mud dauber at a ranch photography pond.

 

Hornet wondering why that mud dauber is standing on its head.

The following photos were made at Laguna Seca Ranch while I was guiding four other photographers.

Male summer tanager perched close to fruiting manzanita (Barbedos cherry).

 

male Bullock's oriole perched above potted plant brought from home for color.

 

Great kiskadee eating a manzanita fruit.

I had a bad angle on this kiskadee.  You should see the image Ed Jacoby captured!

 

Female painted bunting drying feathers after a good bath.

 

painted bunting, male, flying down to an afternoon bath.
Courtship ritual of male northern cardinal feeding female.

In spring and early summer, if a male and female cardinal come to your feeder/water hole, be ready to capture this shot.  He will feed her; you just have to supply the nice perch and quick focus. Grab your “Swet Towel” (athletic cooling towel available on Amazon and at larger sporting goods stores like Academy) and Gatorade and head for the blind before the summer molt begins.

 

Larry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Roma Again

Two weeks ago, I purchased a new computer monitor to replace the dead Dell UltraBrite which had been in service about 7 years.  After much study, I selected the ASUS 23″ high definition model and I love it.  Wow, are prices going down…the old monitor cost something in the $600 range and this one was $216.

Last week, I was on the Roel Ramirez Ranch north of Roma (about 7 miles from the Rio Grande) conducting a workshop and photographing the bird life.  Roel has been getting things organized at the ranch and he is constructing new blinds.  There is a lot to do and it should be looking great by this coming fall.

About 4 inches rain soaked the area over the last 10 days, so the butterflies are hatching, too.  The headquarters butterfly garden was coming alive with butterflies and blooms when we left.  I may have some of the group’s photos to share with you in coming newsletters, but the following images should give you a good sense of what we captured.

Click 0n an image to enlarge and sharpen it.  Then click in the upper right portion of the photo to advance.

 

Plain Chachalaca eating the fruit of an Amargosa bush.

 

Plain Chachalaca displaying tail before take-off.

 

Painted Bunting sneaking through the black brush.

 

During the first two days of our workshop, the rain had left everything soaked and water was standing everywhere.  The birds just weren’t coming to the blinds.  By day 3, the area was dry again so, we saw many species including painted bunting.

Male painted bunting flushing.

 

Green Jay showing his excitement at our arrival.

 

The first groove-billed ani of the year arriving for a drink.

 

Common Ground-Dove displaying red under-wing as a warning to other doves... "keep your distance".

 

White-fronted Dove with egg shell stuck to her feathers.

 

First year male Hooded Oriole visiting the photo blind pond on a hot morning.
Yellow Warblers bathing at a ranch pond.

 

On day three of the workshop, we saw many yellow birds (Wilson’s warbler, male and female yellow warblers, male and female hooded orioles).  Most were photographed with the Canon 7D camera, 500 mm lens and 1.4X teleconverter on a Wimberley head and Feisol carbon fiber tripod.

Male yellow warbler on log.

 

Pair of long-billed thrashers arrive at the blind for water and food.

 

Drab little olive sparrow after a bath.

 

A sure sign of spring...northern cardinals bonding through feeding ritual.

 

Male painted bunting singing.
One more singing painted bunting.

 

Bird photography will be good all the way through June, so you still have time to grab a couple bottles of water and get down to south Texas where these birds congregate.  Every ranch offers excellent photography… Dos Venadas Ranch, Tacubaya Ranch, Santa Clara Ranch, Laguna Seca Ranch, Martin Refuge and Isaac Garza’s Tepeyac Ranch.  I hope to see you soon.

Larry

 

 

 

Block Creek Natural Area Instructional Photo Tour

Seven of us photographed in late April near Fredericksburg, Texas in the hill country at Block Creek Natural Area with hosts Sharron and Larry Jay.  The Jays had installed two new blinds earlier in the year and both had good numbers of birds.  For four days, we worked the blinds, photographed hawks and owls presented by “Last Chance Forever” raptor recovery group, and worked the area’s many hummingbirds with my flash setup.  We had good luck at all these locations, but the breeding birds had not arrived in huge numbers as they usually do by mid-April.  As the week came to a close, two photographers joined me for an afternoon while we refined our Photoshop skills.

The food and lodging at Block Creek Natural area were superb, as always.  That and entertaining conversation around the dinner table kept things lively and fun.

Check the photos that follow to see a variety of what I photographed.  This is just a small sample of what the group captured during the photo tour.

Remember, just click on a photo to open it in a larger, sharper format.  Then move your cursor to the upper right portion of a photo to advance.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher pair getting ready to nest.

These scissortails landed on a fence near Larry Jay and me on the last afternoon of the photo tour.  The capture was with a Canon 1D mark IV, 500 mm lens. 1.4 teleconverter, Feisol tripod and Wimberley head, ISO 500, 1/3200 second @ f5.6.

Female black-chinned hummingbird feeding.

 

My time at the hummingbird setup was limited to a few minutes to get the flashes adjusted.  After that, the other photographers occupied every minute at the set and captured hundreds of amazing shots.  I’ll get there a day early next year.  There were many opportunities to photograph hummingbirds around the headquarters flower gardens, so that is where I went after being ousted from the setup area.

Male black-chinned hummingbird guarding his territory near some trumpet vines.

 

Windmill and full moon in front of the Block Creek Natural Area bed and breakfast.

 

During our first evening at Block Creek NA, some of us captured the rising moon and a flock of purple martins headed to roost.

Purple martins making one last flight before coming back to the nest box for the night.
Black vulture landing on handler's glove.

 

The Harris's Hawk doesn't always return to the handler's glove.

 

 

 

Harris's hawk landing by yucca.

 

I cloned the jesses off the legs of this captive hawk.

Great horned owl with rat for dinner.

 

 

Canyon wrens were nesting in the Jay's barn.

 

Carolina wren drawn to photo perch with mealworms.

 

Red-tailed hawk surveying the grasslands near a Block Creek NA barn.

 

Male eastern bluebird singing on breeding territory.

 

Fence lines around the Block Creek NA area are always active with colorful birds like this painted bunting.

 

Chipping sparrows frequent Block Creek feeding perches.

 

Pine Siskin perched on blooming buckeye.

 

The buckeye trees along Block Creek were blooming in late April and afforded beautiful perches.  Most Texans probably don’t know the buckeye is native here, although the hill country trees are a different species from those in the eastern U.S.

 

House finches were common at each of the photo blinds.

 

Beautiful male Painted Bunting eating millet seeds.

 

Vermilion flycatcher looking for insects on the wing.

 

You can see that we had a great variety of birds in the Texas hill country this year.  Many more arrived after a spring cold front blew through central Texas three days after we departed.   Timing is everything, but we had plenty of good shooting.

Larry

 

 

Splash of Color on South Padre

Yesterday, (Dr.) Beto Gutierrez and I got up with the dawn and headed to South Padre Island for what we were sure would be a big day of photographing songbirds in migration.  We weren’t disappointed even though a 30 mph wind was blowing out of the north.  Many species went un-photographed but following this paragraph are a few samples of what we captured.  Some of these shots are on a log perch furnished by photographer Stephen Sinclair and some are on natural perches.  As always, the color splash was fantastic as we got birds with red, yellow, blue, orange, black, white, green, etc.  and that was just the warblers and tanagers.  Very few grosbeaks and orioles were in the area after last week’s big fallout.

View these photos by clicking in the upper right portion of the shot to make it larger and sharper.  You will see the advance button, just click it to bring up the next photo.

Male Indigo Bunting in the Convention Center habitat.

 

Prothonotary Warbler male with meal worm.

 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird chasing another male.

 

Juvenile Bay-breasted Warbler perched in Convention Center woods on South Padre Island.

 

Cape May Warbler male foraging in tepeguaje tree.

 

Tennessee Warblers feeding on insects and insect eggs in a mesquite tree.

 

Black-and-White Warbler checking under tree bark for insects and other invertebrates.

 

Chestnut-sided Warbler grabbing a mealworm and jumping into the air before another bird can snatch it away.

 

A "still" Chestnut-sided Warbler on the hunt for food.

Western Tanager male

 

Worm-eating Warbler resting in a small habitat before heading north.

 

Yellow Warbler male about to snatch a bug from the leaves.

 

All of these photos were captured with a Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 500 mm lens, 1.4 X tele-extender, extension tube (25 mm), Canon 580 flash, Feisol tripod and Wimberley head.  I always have aching shoulders at the end of a photo day, but it takes all this equipment to get these kinds of photos.  Most of these birds were photographed at 1/800 to 1/1250 second in the shade.  You will recognize the daylight shots.

Thanks to all the volunteers who feed the birds as they rest in the small habitat on the island and special thanks to Will and Jill Carter who started planting these trees almost two decades ago.

I hope you enjoyed the spring migration.

Larry