Trogon Photo Tours

TEXAS

March 16-18, 2018 Whooping Cranes

May 5-10, 2018 Galveston Warblers and Shorebirds

On this page I will list all the workshops that are coming up that I am leading in Texas, scroll down to view the different workshops.

Workshop Leader: Nate Chappell. Nate will provide in field instruction and answer any photographic questions that you may have. Nate will also be giving  digital presentations on photographing birds in the wild and using flash for bird photography as well as a raw image processing presentation.  In the evenings we will do some image review and critique of photos for whoever wishes to participate.  

Whooping Cranes,  March 16-18, 2018

Cost and logistics:

March 16-18, 2018  $995,  Nonphotographer spouse $495. Deposit required to reserve your spot is $400.  Extension extra day March 19, cost $395.  The price includes all guiding, instruction, and cost of boat trips.  It does not include hotels, meals or transportation.  The recommended hotel is the Hampton Inn in Rockport, TX.  I will have some rooms blocked there, let me know if you want to reserve one when you sign up.  I can also arrange transport from the nearest airport, Corpus Christi. 



Number of participants: Maximum of 4 photographers

Itinerary:

March 16 - Arrive in Rockport, TX.  Presentation on photographing birds in the wild at the Hampton Inn, Rockport TX at 7pm.

March 17 and 18 - Each morning we will have a boat trip to photograph the Whooping Cranes and visit the rookery islands which contain nesting Great Blue Herons, Great and Reddish Egrets and we will see many other water birds on these trips.  Each afternoon we will spend time photographing the Whooping Cranes from blinds on private property.  Sandhill Cranes and Roseate Spoonbills are also possible on this workshop.  

March 19 - On the extension we will visit the Turnbull Birding Center in the morning for photography of many different species,  possibilities include Sora Rail, Least Bittern, 3 species of teal, Pelicans and many others.  In the afternoon we will photograph shorebirds at the Rockport Beach Park.

Equipment needed:  The longer the lens the more opportunities you will have.  The minimum size lens that you would want to have would be 300mm. We have several lenses available to be rented out for a modest fee.

May 5-10, 2018 Galveston Warblers and Shorebirds

Cost and Logistics:

The workshop is based in Galveston, TX and the recommended hotel is the Hampton Inn in Galveston.  The cost of the workshop is $2,700 and includes property use fees, instruction, guiding and local transportation from Galveston, TX to the shooting sites.  Cost for nonphotographer spouse is $1,350.  It does not include hotels, meals or transportation to and from Galveston, TX.  The deposit required to reserve your spot is $900 per photographer.

Itinerary:

May 5th - Arrive to Galveston, TX.  Afternoon blind photography at Stevenson Woods.   

May 6th-9th - We will have 4 full days of bird photography.  Our 2 main shooting locations are Stevenson Woods where we will be photographing migrating warblers, redstarts, orioles, tanagers, thrushes and other migrant songbirds from blinds at water drips that are very close to the blinds and the south end of Galveston Island for shorebirds.  Nate will place attractive perches above the drips that the birds will drop down onto before entering the water. Jim Stevenson's yard has the biggest yard list in North America at 319 species.  The other main shooting location,  the south end of Galveston Island, is terrific for shorebird photography.  Avocets, Terns, Plovers, Skimmers, Phalaropes and many other birds can be photographed at close range here.  How good the warbler and migrants shooting is of course dependant on weather, Jim will be keeping an eye on the birds at his drip and the weather and have a good feel for when it's best to shoot at the water drips and when it's not.  When we don't think it will be as productive at the drips we will be out at the shorebird locations.  In addition we will photograph nesting breeding birds like Seaside Sparrow, Clapper Rail and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. During our down time Nate will give presentations on photographing birds in the wild, raw image processing and/or using flash for bird photography at the Hampton Inn.

May 10th - We will have one more morning of bird photography and the workshop will conclude before lunch.  You will go home with a lot of great images and memories.



Contact: Nate Chappell at nchappell@trogontours.net or 281-778-1486 with questions or to sign up for the workshop.