The Texas adventure took me from the Gulf to the Hill Country. I finished out in an area that provided me the opportunity to find two life birds that I had targeted during my year of research and preparation.
Near the small town of Junction, Tx one can find South Llano State Park. This 2600 acre park sits on the banks of the Llano River. It is filled with camping spots, hiking trails, and bird blinds that provide great opportunities to the photographer looking to add birds to their portfolio and life list.
I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon and morning at the park prior to my trip ending. Here I was able to quickly find target birds such as a Verdin, Blue Grosebeaks, Indigo Buntings, Black crested Titmouse, multiple Sparrow species, and more.
I chose South Llano State Park because my research showed that the Black-capped Vireo and the Golden-cheeked Warbler can both be found there during the spring migration. Both birds were very high on my target list for Texas. As luck would have it, I chose the right blind to finish out the evening in as I was able to view and photograph the Black-capped Vireo. This bird was listed as endangered in 1987 and conservation efforts moved off the list in 2018. It is still listed as a vulnerable species.
The second target that I wanted to find was the Golden-cheeked Warbler. This beautiful bird is often found high in the juniper and oak hardwoods. This bird is still listed as endangered and became listed in 1990. The morning was overcast and a light rain fell as I embarked off into the woods. As part of my research, I became very familiar with the sounds and calls of the Golden-cheeked Warbler. It took about two hours of hiking and I heard the Warbler. Now, this is why bird photography is so addicting. Just as a fox hunts for his prey by sound, so too did I! It was not long and I was able to find a pair of them perched on the top of a hardwood tree. I found myself just staring through the shutter watching my target. Luckily, I remembered to press the shutter and quietly moved on.
I ended the morning in yet another blind, and came away with a Varied-Painted Bunting hybrid; one that I later found out had become famous in the park.
The Texas trip was amazing. I know I will be back as not only have my photography skills improved, but so has my ability to locate and identify birds.
Equipment: Canon 7d mkii; Sigma 150-600C f5.6-6.3; Sigma 70-200 f2.8; Canon 5d mkii; Optech USA Straps; Induro Tripods; Oboz Boots
The adventure took me to many places in Texas. South Padre Island is a birders paradise. The Birding and Nature center provides a beachside boardwalk, observation tower and exhibit hall. If you happen to hit this center during a fallout, watch out!
During the spring migration, it is common to find 50 plus species here a day. The area is rich with water features, feeders, mangrove habitat, and marshland. Warblers find this as a stop on the way north as do Heron’s, Egrets, and more.
The parking is plentiful and the Center itself is a great place. The 3300 plus feet of boardwalk offers photographers ample opportunity to click the shutter on willing subjects. Five bird blinds offer even more opportunity to catch a Clapper Rail, or Least Bittern wading through the reeds.
I put the 7dmk2 and the Sigma 150-600C to work capturing life birds. Tennessee Warblers, Painted Buntings, Hooded Warblers, and more found their way into my view finder. The Birding Center is a “must hit” if you are a bird photographer!
There are many parks on the island that offer photography opportunities. The Valley Land Fund birding area is an off the main path chunk of real estate that is prime warbler habitat. It sits in the middle of a residential area, but yields high counts of many migrants. Here, there are no lack of Buntings, Woodpeckers, and more. Again, it took little effort to come away with life list birds!
South Padre Island is a top US location for a reason. Check back for Part Four!
The South Texas sunrise greeted us as the sounds of birds echoed off Toyota behind us. Twenty minutes into the day I had found new birds to add to the life list. Having a local who is super knowledgeable and as passionate if not more about birds helps. Mark was able to prepare the day ahead and hit spots that were guaranteed to find additions to my life list.
Cattle Egret, Sora, Greater Yelllowlegs, Dunlin, Reddish Egret, Purple Martin, and more all added to the list. The next stop was a spot that I have longed to see. The Gulf of Mexico. I was excited to see the Gulf and it did not disappoint. Shore birds were abundant as we
Rosette Spoonbill, Gulf of Mexico
walked along the surf with camera in hand. A highlight of the day for me was the Rossette Spoonbill (Ajaja ajaja). An ugly but beautifully colored bird.
I continued to add to my life list of birds. We drove the backroads near the Gulf and north, looking for Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and more. A years worth of preparation and guidance from Mark was finally coming to fruition and paying off. I quickly understood why this part of the U.S. was such a touted destination for birders and bird photographers.
Mark, an experienced birder, would often hear a call or a song, and then be able to locate the species. It was this way that I was able to knock off the various Kingbird species off of my life list.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
A Western Kingbird I had, but not Couch’s, Cassin’s, or Tropical, and the main difference between them are the calls they make. Without the guidance of Mark, adding these to my list would not have been possible. The day was one for the books, and it was only day one.
Come back for Part Three.
As most of the world is sitting in their homes, watching history be made right before our eyes, I figured it was time to FINALLY get this trip down on paper. If not for the reader, for my own recollection as I move along in years.
Bird photography in Texas is as big as the state itself, so I will break the adventure up into manageable blog posts. Texas has just over 600 recorded bird species. Imagine trying to figure out where and when to go in that large of a state with that much opportunity! Research was the name of the game! Wildlife photography is as much about preparation as it is about skill with a camera. Knowing about your subject and its behaviors can make or break an outing. In this case, the bird migration north has no shortage of research.
Information is at our fingertips; use it. In this case, it made Texas smaller! Knowing the migration habits and routes and areas for specific targets narrowed down the locations. One of the coolest things out of this trip was using social media to gather information and then actually making a connection and a friendship out of it. Wildlife and bird photography seems to have two camps. Those that are willing and eager to help and give information and mentor and those who will not. I have not experienced a middle ground. I found the
Green Jay
former. Having a local who not only provided information to help in the quest, but was willing to take time out of his life to meet and hit up locations was invaluable. Thanks Mark!
Research showed that the early April time frame should give us ample opportunity to photograph our primary targets. The locations chosen were the Gulf Coast and the Hill Country. More specifically, the Corpus Christi area, South Padre Island, the Mexican Border, and The Hill Country north of San Antonio.
Between local knowledge, E-bird, internet research, and more, locations and hot spots were narrowed down. The anticipation and research was soon to pay off. The list of targets is way to big to put here, but I will be sure to cover some of the coveted few. The premise for the trip was getting good photos of the Green Jay, often one of the top ten targets in North America for bird photographers. Another personal one was the Painted Bunting, a small bird that reminds me of a rainbow!
Golden-cheeked Warbler
The Hill Country harbored two species that was high on the list, the Golden-cheeked Warbler, and the Black-capped Viero. Also included, were other migrating Warblers, and an array of shorebirds that I may never get the opportunity to photograph in Montana.
The arrival in Texas found me driving to the coast and meeting Mark at a hot spot location. Gear was tested and double checked, and plans were made for the next day’s adventure.
Check Back for Part Two!!!
It has come to my attention that I have hit the 100th submission mark on Ebird. It may not be a big milestone, but for someone who is new to the game and new to the birding world, thank you photography, it seems that to me anyway, 100 submissions should mean something.
Evening Grosbeak in Backyard
I look at my life list, which is just over 300 and wonder two things: 1. How long did it take the other 50 million birders to reach 300, and 2. If I had better knowledge of identifiers, how many more would have at this point? The answer to number one is really, “who cares.” There is no contest winnings for fastest, at least not that I know of; and the answer for number two is, that it is a great opportunity to learn and become educated. I think as adults in the midst of, well, LIFE, we forget that educating ourselves in new things can be hugely beneficial for our mental, spiritual, and yes, in this case physical health.
What has the first 100 given to me? The easy answer is simple. Another reason and passion for the outdoors and the wild. I cannot always get away to chase elk and deer and bears for photography purposes. It’s not possible to just pack up for a three day back country trip.
Blue Jay in Backyard
It is pretty easy though, to take thirty minutes and watch the feeders in the backyard, or head to the local park with the camera in hand and see what new species may be there, or what new behaviors I may capture with the lens. A more complex answer could fill up pages and perhaps in the future more will written about it.
Birding and bird photography has taken me to places I never imagined. Just in the short 100, I have been to Arizona, specifically for birding.
Blackpool Warbler Port Aransas, TX
I have spent a week in Texas chasing the spring migration of warblers, and more. It has connected me to people across the nation. It has given my family and I yet another adventure that we can do together. Hearing your two year old say “bird, bird, bird eat” anytime she looks out the window towards the feeder brings a huge smile to anyone in earshot.
I challenge the reader. Take thirty minutes. Take thirty minutes and just watch the damn birds. Notice the small differences in plumage that in many cases differentiate species. Listen. Listen to the sounds they make. Sometimes the calls and songs are the factor between identification. It makes a person think. It requires a person to become educated in something new. It requires a little bit of adventure, and which one of us cannot use a little adventure?
Golden-cheeked Warbler, South Llano SP, Junction, TX
Keep Chasing the Wild Outdoors, you never know what can be found!
Tree line. High alpine Meadows. Scarred crags and fields of granite. The setting for a high plateau fishing adventure. Luckily, living where I do in the foothills of the Absaroka Beartooth Mountains, a trip like this takes little planning. A small daypack, winter clothing, (even in mid summer) fly rod and micro spin rod, and an early morning wake up is pretty much all I need. That and a good 4×4! Already nearing 10000 feet, the plateau hike to the foot of one of Montana’s tallest peaks refreshes the soul.
Awaiting Cutthroat Trout make the hike through a brisk alpine wind worth the effort.
A lake that just broke ice holds the prize that with a little effort, I hope to fight and land. Though, to be honest the views and solitude are prize enough. Sure enough the familiar lake gives up its inhabitants and the day is won!
A few hours here and the cares and worries of a busy life seem less daunting. Refreshed and content, Montana’s wilderness has once again proven she is a worthy mistress.
I crave wilderness.
As I get prepared for my next adventure, I started thinking back to one year ago. This same time in 2018 I was gearing up for an adventure of epic proportions. In 2015, I embarked on a hobby that quickly sparked a fire. Bird Photography! It has already taken me to the corners of my home state, and now to birding destinations outside of the Big Sky Country. One of those destinations happens to be the mountains of southeast Arizona. Here, the rugged desert is home to many species of bird found nowhere else in USA. The draw of Central American birds migrating to the edge of Arizona brings people from all over the world to this location. The draw to Arizona came from my best friend, Zane Curtiss of Zane Curtiss Photography, who is responsible not only for my passion of photography in general, but for the adventure of birding and bird photography. He and I spent months planning and mapping out trip. Being new to the game, I spent countless hours researching certain species and their habits, sounds, and plumage. The top of the list being the Elegant Trogon. A brilliant metallic green, copper, and red, this bird can be found from the jungles in Guatemala to the Gila River in Arizona. A four day adventure would be centered around capturing this magnificent creature. Combing the countryside in the high desert is no easy task. The Northern edge of the Huachuca Mountain’s is home to such a bird and upon our arrival, we searched until we located our target. After a day and a half of hunting and photographing other species of birds, the sound of a Trogon echoed down the canyon. It wasn’t long until we had located our target bird. The reason for such a trip. It was a magnificent find. Luckily, the Elegant Trogon spent an hour searching for insects and small caterpillars on the trees around us, providing multiple opportunities for amazing captures.
Elegant Trogon (Trogon elegans)
Our trip was not even close to over. There are birding hotspots all over southeast Arizona and we were determined to hit many. Madera Canyon just a stones throw from Mexico, Battiste’s BB&B, in Hereford AZ, Miller Canyon, Ramsey Canon, San Pedro RNCA. All these places yielded life list birds and memories that will last a lifetime.
I was taken back by the landscape as well was the birding experience. The rugged mountains that we called home for the trip were breathtaking. The high desert peaks and hardy vegetation makes for an ideal habitat for the birds we sought after. Red-faced Warblers, Mexican Jay, Gila Woodpecker, Broad-billed Hummingbird were just a few of the 70 plus species that I added to my life list. Among those, were the elusive Elf Owl. The smallest Owl in the world, it rarely is taller than 14 inches. It was amazing watching three of these diminutive birds as sun set behind the red colored mountains.
Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi)
This trip in 2018 only added to the fire and before we even left Arizona my best friend and I were planning our 2019 trip to what some call the birding capital of the world, South Texas. A year in the making, this trip will be one for the books. However, without Arizona and the adventure that came with it, Texas wouldn’t have been a forethought. My first “bird photography” out of state adventure will go down as an epic time, and will always be the Elegant Trogon of my birding life!
Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)
Gear List: Canon 7dmkii, Sigma 150-660c, Induro CT 313 tripod, Sirui K-20 ballhead, Wimberly Sidekick, Optech USA camera straps,
Birding area’s: Ramsey Canyon, Madera Canyon, Miller Canyon, Huachuca Canyon, Battiste’s BB&B, Saguaro National Park, San Pedro RNCA
For a full gallery of photos from this trip: https://chasingthewildoutdoors.zenfolio.com/p308949271
I have visited Yellowstone National Park many times. In fact, I average about 20 trips a year to our first National Park. This past September saw over 700,000 visitors. That is a thirteen percent increase from September of 2017. It is a crowded wilderness; or is it? Yes, the must-see’s are full of first time and returning visitors. This was evident as I climbed to the top a ridge near Grand Prismatic Spring for a sunrise view of the Fire Hole Valley and Lower Geyser Basin. As the sun lit up the geyser filled basin, the sounds of vehicles and buses became ever apparent. Luckily in the world that is Yellowstone, the sounds of bugling bull elk broke up the sounds of closing car doors, and the diesel rumble of buses. I pondered as I walked my camera from vista to vista, if it is possible to be alone, and feel alone in a place that sees over 3 million visitors.
It was later that morning where that question was easily answered. It can be done. Quickly. The crowded wilderness can accommodate a lonely wanderer. My photography companion spoke of some thermal spots that were a short hike off the beaten path. These features were toted as a worthy effort to capture with the lens.
A Blue Pool, alone in a Crowded Wilderness
The first elk bugle that I heard as we embarked on this small trek put me in a trance. I forgot I was in Yellowstone. I felt like I was back in time, exploring this vast wilderness before it was a destination vacation. The canyon echoed with bugles and the tranquil sound of a stream. Just like it was written into a script, a coyote emerged from the timber and crossed the stream. Then, it vanished back into the scrub pine and burned landscape, scarred from centuries of ever changing geothermal activity.
Red Mud Boils
It was after this chance encounter that we stumbled upon thermal features that were void of boardwalks, void of people, selfie sticks, and vehicles. It was a quiet landscape save the boiling rumble of the features, and the distant bugle of an elk. Quietly, we photographed the landscape, awe struck by the vivid colors, and the feeling that this area was set aside just for us.
Reluctantly, we headed down the ridge back towards the crowded wilderness. Back to the year 2018. I realized again that the innate drive for adventure and wandering was alive and well in the human spirit, at least in some of us.
Lower Geyser Basin; Fire Hole River and Valley
Gear: Induro Carbon Fiber Tripod, Suri K-40 ball head, Wimberley Sidekick, Canon 5dmkii, Canon 7dmkii, Canon f4 24-105L, Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6, Optech USA Urban Sling
Clothing: First Lite Obsidian Pant, First Lite mid weight T, Oboz Firebrand foot ware
A few years ago, I started a blog. A blog in hopes of, well, I wasn’t really sure. I thought I knew. I wanted a blog that would be read by millions, and maybe thrust me into some kind of social media fandom. I did not see results, I did not see the fanfare, and I became discouraged and thought to myself, what do the successful ones have that I don’t? I really still haven’t answered that question. I do know that I have been asked multiple times over the last 24 months as to why I stopped, and have been asked to start again. Time.
Time is probably the biggest factor. I simply had so many irons in the fire that I didn’t know how or where to manage my time. Two, now Three young daughters, a full-time job, a wife, a small business, photography, shooting, hunting, backpacking, friends, family all take time. I’m the first to admit, I am terrible at time management. I want to do. I want to adventure. I want to find those epic moments atop 13,000 foot peaks, I want to capture that pivotal and emotional moment in a wildlife photo. But, I also want to be an amazing father and husband and friend. If we are honest with ourselves, all this is a daunting task. And after not seeing the “quick” results of blogging, I simply put it on the back burner as another tried and failed attempt of something new. However, I still felt the need to write, to share, and to build myself. Perhaps it is due to the fact as a 12 year Law Enforcement Officer, I am surrounded by evil, deal with the devil, and often view the world with skewed vision. I NEED an outlet. I need to keep in mind that I deal with a small, small percentage of the population, and that humanity and the world are still inherently good. Most of all, I think the creative spirit in me cannot be boxed in. Adventure, creativity, and desire all go together. Maybe this time around, I can manage it, and use it to drive further into this world. Could it lead to obscure photography venues, maybe. Could it lead to the opportunity to adventure in places I have only dreamed about? I hope so. But, if not, that shouldn’t stop me. It shouldn’t dictate why I want to pursue this. I may not even see the benefits. I have a direction in mind. I have a cause in mind. Will it get to that point? Who knows. I do know that I have contemplated this for many months. For many months my creative wheels have been turning. It could be as easy as making this a detox for my mind and soul as I am often filled with anger, synasissm, and malice towards the world that I love to capture and be in so much. If it is nothing more, then it is a
Hiking in the mountains of Montana, with 20lbs of Camera gear. Photo Credit: Jade F. Films
success. If it educates and changes one persons mind, or gets them off their ass and into the world to adventure, then again it is a success. If by some small chance, it becomes an avenue to dive into my passion and dreams, then so be it. Most of all, it will be one hell of a ride. If I crash and burn this time, well, let us hope I get up, dust off, say a few choice words, and keep moving.
Chasing the Wild Outdoors 