Dates: February 6-11, 2028 8 Spaces Available
Cost: $3799 Location: McAllen, Texas
This workshop is limited to 8 people
Details: Come join us for warm weather bird photography from the amazing Laguna Seca Ranch in South Texas. We are going in February when the largest number of raptors congregate at the ranch. It is possible to see more than 50 Crested Caracaras, Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures gathered at one time. In addition we regularly see Harris Hawks and White-tailed Hawks at the ranch. With so many raptors in one place, it is easy to photograph interactions between raptors and even species of raptors. Because of their larger size, raptors are more easy to photograph than some of the faster, smaller songbirds.
When we are not focused on raptors we will photograph the resident South Texas specialty songbirds which include Green Jays, Pyrrhuloxia, Long Billed Thrashers, Greater Roadrunners. Wild Turkeys and Bobwhite Quail. By setting up perches and using bird food to lure them in, the birds will come to us. We will have exclusive use of the ranch and multiple blinds each day.
If you have been to Laguna Seca in the spring, this is the perfect opportunity to come back and visit when there are groups of birds interacting in front of us.We love photographing birds, and can’t wait to return! We promise you will have a lot of fun, improve your photography, and create images worthy of hanging in your home.
What you will learn:
- Blind photography techniques
- How to photograph raptors and songbirds, both static and in flight
- Advanced autofocus strategies for wildlife photography
- Composition
- Wildlife Editing in Lightroom and Photoshop
A typical day: Our days will be all about photographing birds. Our goal is to help you learn how to take compelling bird photos with hands on instruction. We will cover camera settings, anticipating behavior, and specialty topics like stylizing perches, site prep and using food to lure birds.
Hotel: Book your room at the Holiday Inn Express in Pharr, Texas for the entire workshop. Be sure it’s the hotel in Pfarr on Nolana Road as there are several Holiday Inns nearby. Their rates are very wallet friendly so we do not have a group block.
Closest Airport: McAllen, Texas – Our hotel in Pharr is located just 10 minutes from the airport in McAllen. Pharr and McAllen are only ten minutes from each other.
Recommended camera gear:
- 1-2 camera bodies (back up body can be useful)
- Wider telephoto lens for example 70-200mm or 300mm
- Longer telephoto lens –200-500mm, 500mm or 600mm, or even 800mm
- Tripod
- Laptop for editing and critique
- Plenty of spare cards – plan to shoot several thousand images
Included in the fee:
- Final Dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant
- All fees for private blinds and guides; exclusive use of the ranch blinds
- Breakfast daily at the hotel
- All instruction
- Copy of Tom’s ebook Create Better Photographs
Participants will provide their own:
- Hotel accommodation
- Transportation while in Texas (we recommend a SUV or vehicle with high clearance because of the dirt roads on the ranches.
- Round trip transportation to McAllen, Texas
- All lunches and dinners, except for Final Dinner
Itinerary:
Day 1: Meet in the lobby of the Holiday Inn & Suites in Pharr, Texas at 7 pm.
Day 2: Breakfast at the hotel, then drive to Laguna Seca Ranch for a full day of photographing from blinds. We will photograph exotic songbirds on colorful perches and are sure to capture the Green Jays that frequent the area.
Day 3: On this day we will return to the Laguna Seca Ranch. For the morning session we will photograph raptors including Crested Caracaras, vultures and Harris Hawks. After dinner we will meet in the conference room at the Holiday Inn to work on editing in PhotoShop and Lightroom.
Day 4: We will photograph raptors a second time to maximaize interactions between birds and perfect birds in flight. We will also practice photographing birds using slower shutter speeds for a creative effect.
Day 5: We will spend a full day at the Laguna Seca Ranch photographing birds in flight. We start with a second rapture session in the morning and work on song bird in flight with specially designed perches.
Day 6: Final image review – show us your best images from the trip. The workshop ends at 10:00 am
Deposit Texas Raptors & Birds 2028
February 6-11, 2028
$500.00
Know Before You Go: Rated Easy: This workshop requires minimal walking, less than 100 yards. There are often snakes in the area at this time of year.
