Trogon Tours

MALHEUR OREGON PHOTO WORKSHOP
April 28- May 3, 2015

November 9-13, 2014

Workshop April 28-May 3: Join professional photographer  Ken Archer for an exciting 6 days of photographing birds and wildlife at one of the top breeding bird locations in the US. This trip is limited to 4 students to ensure a lot of personal instruction for each of the attendees. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Southeastern Oregon attracts large numbers of nesting and migratory birds, along with quite a few mammals.  Large numbers of curlew, avocet, snipe, stilt, phalarope and willet all nest on the refuge.  Other avian highlights include several nesting pairs of Great Horned Owls, displaying Sage Grouse and nesting waterbirds of many varieties.  The shorebirds, waterbirds and Sage Grouse provide consistently excellent photo opportunities.  As far as mammals go Pronghorn Antelope, Mule Deer, and Black-tailed Jackrabbit are common, while it is also a good area for smaller, more elusive predators such as weasel, badger and bobcat.

Ken will provide in field instruction and answer any photographic questions that you may have.  Ken will also be giving  digital presentations on photographing birds in the wild and technical photography discussions featuring his images.  In the evenings we will do some image review and critique of photos for whoever wishes to participate.

Workshop November 9-13: Leader: Ken Archer.  This workshop is focused on photographing the winter wildlife and birds of Malheur.  The main photographic targets on this workshop are Mule Deer, Wild Horses and wintering raptors and game birds. 

Cost and Logistics:  

April 28-May 3: 1,995 per person, $250 single supplement.  This includes all lodging, instruction, guiding and permits.  It does not include meals, snacks, beverages or transportation.  The fee for a nonphotographer spouse or companion to join the trip is $400. Deposit is $400.

November 9-13: $1,695 per person, $200 single supplement.

For both workshops for transportation you will need to arrange your own vehicle  We will carpool locally around the refuge. The nearest airport to Burns is Boise, Idaho, about a 3 hour drive.  To reserve your place on the tour we are requesting a deposit of $400.

Number of participants: Maximum of 4 photographers

Equipment needed:  The longer the lens the more opportunities you will have at Malheur. The minimum size lens that you would want to have would be 300mm.  We have one Nikon and one Canon lens of about 400mm each that are available to be lent out to participants.

April 28, 2015 - Arrive in Hines/Burns, Oregon. Meet at the hotel at 5pm.  After dinner Ken will give his presentation, photographing birds in the wild. Lodging:  Best Western Rory and Ryan Inn, Hines, Oregon.

April 29, 2015 - We will have an early morning breakfast at the hotel and head out for a morning photo shoot.  The agricultural fields southeast of Burns attract lots of curlews, avocets, ibis and other species such as Yellow-headed Blackbirds.  After lunch Nate will give a presentation back at the hotel on using flash for bird photography.  We will go out in the evening to explore the dirt roads around Burns and the abundance of wildlife there.  Lodging: Best Western Rory and Ryan Inn, Hines, OR.

April 30, 2015 - In the morning we will drive to the northern part of the refuge.  The fields and marshes here attract Burrowing and Short-eared Owls as well as a host of waterbirds such as Eared Grebe and Ruddy Duck.  We will return to Burns and check out. Then we will drive to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.  We will check a Golden Eagle nest that has been active most years and can be photographed from one of the refuge roads. Then we will drive through the central and southern part of the refuge (about a 40 mile drive) stopping at a few of the better ponds on the way.  That evening we will stay at the historic and comfortable Frenchglen Hotel.  Lodging: Drovers Inn,  Frenchglen Hotel comfortable accommodation.

May 1, 2015 - In the morning we will drive down south of the refuge looking for wild horses.  In the afternoon we will photograph waterbirds from the central refuge road.  This road is excellent for Ruddy Duck, Eared Grebe, Cinnamon Teal, Redhead, Ring-necked Pheasant and many other birds.  We will be shooting from our vehicles this afternoon, so a beanbag for support is very helpful.  In the evening we will review images together. Lodging: Drovers Inn, Frenchglen Hotel.

May 2, 2015 - This morning we will visit a Sage Grouse lek   This is a spectacular experience with male birds sometimes fighting near the cars.  In the afternoon we will visit the refuge headquarters.  At this time of year the Belding's Ground Squirrels have just had their young and they make for great photo opportunities.  All of those ground squirrels also attract
predators, on the 2010 workshop we had a Prairie Falcon make several passes through the visitor center before grabbing a ground squirrel.  There was also a Red-tailed Hawk nest there and many birds at the feeders. After dinner we will review and critique images.  Lodging: Drovers Inn, Frenchglen Hotel.

May 3, 2015 - After an early morning breakfast we will go the Sage Grouse lek again. After checking out we will head back toward Burns stopping at the refuge headquarters on the way back.   


November 9-13, 2014 - The first evening Ken will give photography presentations at the hotel.  All 4 nights of this workshop we stay at the Best Western in Hines, OR.  From the 10th through the 12th we will be out all day on the refuge photographing deer, horses and birds as well as the monring of the 13th before returning to Hines for check out.