Monthly Archives: June 2015

Wet Week at Transition Ranch

A few months back, some of you may recall that I was chattering more than usual about the photography opportunities at Transition Ranch near Uvalde, Texas.  During the dry spring of 2014, I helped the owners select photo blind locations and I showed them where to find golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos.  After a few days at the ranch, I was really excited about the possibilities.  Then, when April arrived this year, the ranch was drenched with record amounts of rainfall.

Here are a few of the images I captured at Transition Ranch while guiding two groups of photographers at mid-month.   For best viewing, click on an image to enlarge and sharpen it.  Click on the right center of each image to advance through the images.

House Finch_79A6750

House Finches were abundant in spite of heavy rains.

House Finches provided lots of action when shooting was slow with other birds.
House Finches provided lots of action when shooting was slow with other birds.

 

Male Hooded Oriole calling from a Texas persimmon tree.
Male Hooded Oriole calling from a Texas persimmon tree.

 

A shy orchard oriole at the morning blind.
A shy orchard oriole at the morning blind.

 

White-winged doves have established some large nesting colonies on the Transition Ranch.
White-winged doves have established some large nesting colonies on the Transition Ranch.

 

Lark sparrows were actively courting during mid-April.
Lark sparrow in courtship display  with feathers fluffed and tail spread.

 

Flushing Yellow-headed Blackbird photographed at 1/30 second during an afternoon rain.
Flushing Yellow-headed Blackbird photographed at 1/30 second during an afternoon rain.

Frequent rains through the winter and spring made it impossible to complete photo blinds for golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos.  Although shy, they should come to water in this dry country during a normal spring and summer.

By next spring, the ranch owner anticipates having additional blinds in place where golden-cheeked warblers and black-capped vireos may come to drink.
Male golden-cheeked warbler singing from atop a hill country juniper.

 

Transition Ranch has a sizable population of breeding black-capped vireos. The species is among Texas' most beautiful spring/summer residents.
Transition Ranch has a sizable population of breeding black-capped vireos. The species is among Texas’ most beautiful spring/summer residents.

 

Blue Grosbeaks were just arriving as our time at Transition Ranch ended.
Blue Grosbeaks were just arriving as our time at Transition Ranch ended.

With abundant moisture, came abundant wildflowers and blooming prickly pear cactus.

The hills were covered in prickly pear cactus abloom with yellow and peach colored flowers.
The hills were covered in prickly pear cactus abloom with yellow and peach colored flowers.

 

Birds like Nashville Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers and Painted Buntings arrived late because of the cool weather and constant rain.
Birds like Nashville Warblers, Orange-crowned Warblers and Painted Buntings arrived late because of the cool weather and constant rain.

Some of our photographers got excellent photos of painted buntings and Montezuma quail.  I can’t wait for next year…may it be just a little drier.

*** I’ve got a Canon 7D camera with battery grip and a 100-400 mm Canon IS lens (not the new model) for sale.  Both are in great shape.  If you are interested, let me know and/or make me an offer.  I’ve still got the boxes, papers, straps, etc. for them.

Larry

Perfect Winter Morning

I photographed this feeding American Oystercatcher and landing willet last winter in the Laguna Madre shortly after sunrise.  Of course,  water dripping from the bill or having the wings spread is really cool, but it’s the reflection that makes the image.

Click on the image to enlarge and sharpen for viewing.

American Oystercatcher feeding in the Laguna Madre at sunrise

Canon 7D camera and 500 mm IS lens, ISO 400, 1/1600 second @ f 4  from the World Birding Center board walk on South Padre Island.

Willet landing in the Laguna Madre
Willet landing in the Laguna Madre

Canon 7D camera and 500 mm IS Canon lens, Feisol cf tripod with Wimberly Head, ISO 400, 1/4000 second @ f 5.6

I am working my way through thousands of images collected through the winter and spring.  Keep watching for fresh newsletters with photos from Big Bend National Park, Block Creek Ranch, Transition Ranch and more.

Larry

 

Photos from FeatherFest, 2015

I hope most of you take the Texas travel and outdoor magazines, “Texas Highways” and “Texas Parks & Wildlife”.  If so, you may have seen several of my photos in May and June.  It’s always a big thrill to be published, especially in magazines that do such outstanding work.  Look for the cover on the June issue of …Highways and several inside shots as well (the May issue has several, too).  The May issue of Parks & Wildlife included several bird photos for a story on the “The 12 Most Beautiful Birds in Texas”.

The following images come from some photography outings I led this past April in the Rockport and Galveston area for FeatherFest.com.  Many birders and photographers gather in Galveston each spring for the festival and what better place than Galveston to do it?

If you click on the photos, they will enlarge and sharpen for your viewing.  Advance through the slide show by clicking on the right edge of any image.

Brown Pelican nesting on a grassy island near Galveston, Texas.
Brown Pelican nesting on a grassy island near Galveston, Texas.

This was a rainy day shot, so I was most happy to have a new Canon 7D Mark II in hand.  I had to crank it up to ISO 1600 for this capture at 1/2000 sec @ f4 from a tripod.

Brown Pelicans nesting on an island in Galveston Bay, Texas.
Brown Pelicans nesting on an island in Galveston Bay, Texas.

The pelican shots were made from a boat.  I was leading a group of 5 happy photographers who went home with thousands of nice shots of one of Texas’ most interesting birds.

Great blue heron and great egret displaying at a nesting colony on the Texas coast
Great blue heron and great egret displaying at a nesting colony on the Texas coast

This photo and the following bird photos were shot from a boat as we spent two days on the water with Captain Kevin Sims in a Pre-FeatherFest photo shoot.

Great Blue Heron pair breeding at nest colony on Texas coast
Great Blue Heron pair breeding at nest colony on Texas coast
Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets nesting in thorny brush on the Texas gulf coast.
Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets nesting in thorny brush on the Texas gulf coast.
Great Egret displaying showy plume feathers.
Great Egret displaying showy plume feathers.
Reddish Egret landing at nest with great egret in background
Reddish Egret landing at nest with great egret in background

Most of the colonial nesters need structure (brush, sunflowers, etc.) to support their above-ground nests.

One afternoon following our boat trip, we found an old Rockport cemetery full of fancy  spring wildflowers.

Asters and coreopsis in bloom, Rockport, Texas
Asters and coreopsis in bloom, Rockport, Texas

The flower shot was done with a Canon 5D Mark II and 24-105 mm lens from ground level, hand held, 1/30 second @ f16, ISO 400.  By getting on the ground for this shot, I was able to get below a strong wind and capture a perspective most photographers pass by.

Larry