Trogon Tours

TEXAS

 March 3-8, 2015

May 17-23, 2015

June 18-22, 2014

November 21-23, 2014

Photo workshop March 3-8, 2015: Join Nate Chappell to photograph Whooping Cranes and a lot of other great birds near the Texas coast.  We will have 2 boat trips aboard the Jack Flash to photograph Whooping Cranes, breeding Great Blue Herons and a lot of other waterbirds.  We will also photograph Sandhill Cranes, waterfowl, shorebirds and waterbirds in Rockport and Corpus Christi.  We will visit a great place to photograph the 3 species of teal.  We will spend 2 half days and 1 full day Santa Clara Ranch in South Texas for specialties such as Harris's Hawk, Crested Caracara, Green Jay, Long-billed Thrasher and many others.  

Photo workshop May 17-23, 2015 

Join Nate Chappell to photograph both nesting waterbirds and specialty birds in South Texas. This workshop includes 3 nights at Santa Clara Ranch as well as 3 days photographing waterbirds on the Texas coast.  We will take 2 boat trips on the Jack Flash to photograph nesting Roseate Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets and several other species.  Back on shore in Rockport there are breeding colonies of Black Skimmer, Tricolored Heron and Laughing Gull.  Santa Clara Ranch reliable species include Green Jay, Harris's Hawk, Crested Caracara, Long-billed Thrasher and Black-crested Titmouse.  Painted Buntings, Audubon's Orioles, Kiskadees and others should be around this time of year.  We usually get a few mammals at the ranch as well.

Photo workshop June 18-22, 2014

Join Nate to photograph the birds of South Texas.  We will have 1 morning at Quinta Mazatlan and 3 full days of photography at Santa Clara Ranch.  Kiskadees, Painted Buntings, Harris's Hawks, Crested Caracara, Long-billed Thrasher, Green Jays and many other South Texas specialties will be our targets.

November 21-23, 2014 Photo Workshop:

Join Nate to photograph wintering Whooping Cranes and other waterbirds in the Rockport, TX area. We take a boat trip to photograph Whooping Cranes, photograph herons, skimmers and shorebirds in Rockport and wintering waterfowl including a good chance for all 3 species of teal in Port Aransas, TX. 

On all workshops 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 technical photography discussions featuring his images. In the evenings we will do some image review and critique of photos for whoever wishes to participate.

Cost and logistics:

March 3-8:  $2,950, single supplement $200.  Nonphotographer spouse - call or email for price it depends on activities.  $600 to $1,200.   Deposit required is $500.  Includes lodging and while at Santa Clara Ranch meals also.

May 2-8: $3,450, single supplement $200.  Nonphotographer spouse - call or email for price it depends on activities $900 to $1,800.  Includes lodging and about half of the meals.

June 18-22: $2,150, nonphotographer spouse $1,200. Includes all meals and lodging.

November 21-23: $1,095, single supplement $150. Nonphotographer spouse $200-600 depending on activities.  Includes lodging.

For all workshops the prices include all lodging, transportation, guiding, instruction, ranch fees.  For the March and May workshop it includes about half of your meals.  For March or May workshop fly or drive to Corpus Christi, TX on the opening day of the workshop or the night before.  Each workshop will start at 3pm on the first day.

For the June workshop fly or drive to McAllen, TX, the workshop starts that evening.

For the November workshop fly to Corpus Christi, TX or drive to Rockport, TX, the workshop starts at 5pm that evening.

Number of participants: Maximum of 4 photographers

Leaders: Nate Chappell and at Santa Clara Ranch Hector Astorga.  

Equipment needed:  The longer the lens the more opportunities you will have.  However at the ranch in particular many of the subjects are quite close.  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.

Itinerary March 3-8, 2014:

March 3 - Arrival in Corpus Christi, TX.  Transfer to the Rockport, TX Hampton Inn.  Afternoon presentation on bird photography.

March 4 - Spend the morning photographing Whooping Cranes and other waterbirds from a boat designed for photography.  Spend the afternoon photographing shorebirds in Rockport, TX Hotel: Hampton Inn, Rockport, TX.

March 5 - Morning photographing Whooping Cranes and other waterbirds from the Jack Flash boat.  Midday transfer to Santa Clara Ranch.  Afternoon of photography from blinds at Santa Clara Ranch.  Accommodation at Santa Clara Ranch March March 5th and 6th.  Santa Clara Ranch has a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house.  Depending on who signs up you may need to share a room with another photographer at Santa Clara.  The single supplement is for the other portion of the workshop.

March 6 - Full day of photography at Santa Clara Ranch 

March 7 - Morning of photography at Santa Clara Ranch.  Afternoon transfer to a nice hotel in Corpus Christi, TX.  Afternoon photography of waterbirds and shorebirds around Corpus Christi, TX.

March 8 - Morning of waterfowl photography at the board walk on Mustang Island, TX.  Transfer to airport for your return flight home. 

Itinerary May 17-23, 2014:

May 17 - Arrival in Corpus Christi, TX and transfer to the Rockport, TX Hampton Inn.  Afternoon presentation on photographing birds in the wild.

May 18 - Morning boat trip to photograph breeding spoonbills and herons.  Afternoon visit to onshore skimmer, gull and heron rookeries.  Hotel: Hampton Inn, Rockport, TX

May 19 - Morning boat trip to photograph rookeries in Rockport, TX.  Mid day transfer (3 hour drive) to Santa Clara Ranch in South Texas.  Afternoon photography in the blinds.

Accommodation for the nights of May 17, 18 and 19th is at the Santa Clara Ranch, which has a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house.

May 20th and 21st - We will have 2 full days of photographing at the ranch.  The ranch has several sunken blinds which are very close to waterholes which attract an abundance of wildlife. Green Jays, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, both thrashers, several orioles and many others will be our targets.  Hector Astorga, a professional photographer and Nikon shooter, who is the ranch manager will be helping us get the most out of our shoot here. Accommodation: Santa Clara Ranch

May 22nd - One more morning of photographing at the ranch.  The ranch also has an excellent raptor blind for flight and up close shots of Harris's Hawk and Crested Caracara.  After checking out we will have a 3 hour drive to Corpus Christi, TX.  We will get there in time for an afternoon photography session with the waterbirds. Hotel: Corpus Christi, TX

May 23rd - Today we spend the morning photographing shorebirds and water birds around Corpus Christi and then transfer you to the airport for your return trip home. 

Itinerary June 18-22, 2014

June 18th - Arrival at McAllen airport, transfer to a nice hotel in McAllen.

June 19th - Morning bird photography at Quinta Mazatlan with emphasis on specialty species not at Santa Clara including Kiskadee, Chachalaca and Buff-bellied Hummingbird. Transfer to Santa Clara Ranch, afternoon photography there in the raptor blinds followed by presentation on photographing birds in the wild.

June 20 and 21 - 2 full days of photography from the blinds at Santa Clara Ranch.  Buntings, Orioles, Green Jays, Thrashers and other wildlife such as Armadillos and Rattlesnakes.  Presentation on flash photography for birds and raw image conversion. 

June 22 - Morning photography from the blinds followed by transfer to McAllen for your return flight or drive home.

Itinerary November 21-23, 2014

November 21 -  Arrival at Hampton Inn, Rockport, TX.  Presentation on photographing birds in the wild at 5pm, followed by dinner.

November 22 - Morning boat trip on the Jack Flash to photograph Whooping Cranes and other water birds.  Afternoon photography of Black Skimmers and shorebirds in Rockport, TX.  Evening presentation on using flash for bird photography. 

November 23 - Morning of photographing wintering waterfowl, pelicans and other birds at the boardwalk on Port Aransas, TX.  Return to hotel midday for check out.  After lunch Nate will give a presentation on raw image conversion and processing your images in Photoshop.