Trogon Photo Tours

 WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA WINTER EAGLES, OWLS AND MORE

December 10-17, 2022

Photo Workshop: This workshop focuses on photographing the Bald Eagles, Owls, Raptors and Waterfowl that winter in the Pacific Northwest.  We will visit four different river deltas, the Skagit, Samish, Fraser and Squamish all of which hold wintering raptors and waterfowl.  We will be at the Skagit and Squamish River deltas at the peak time for Bald Eagle congregations to feed on spawning salmon.  The Skagit, Samish and Fraser River deltas have good numbers of wintering Tundra Swans and thousands of Snow Geese.  Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, Rough-legged Hawks and Peregrine Falcons are all regularly seen and photographed.  Particularly the Fraser River delta is an excellent location for wintering Snowy Owls.  During irruption years, there will usually be quite a few in the area, while in-non irruption years they often get one or two birds.  We will be checking bird reports for any info on Snowy, Great Grey or Hawk Owl sightings. 

Cost and Logistics:  $3,950 per photographer, $600 single supplement, $2,500 nonphotographer spouse/companion.  Fly and in out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport or if you are driving meet us at our first hotel in LaConner, Washington.  Cost includes all lodging, transportation from Seattle, guiding, instruction, boat trip.  It does not include flights to and from Seattle, meals except some breakfasts, tips or items of a personal nature.  We will spend 3 nights in Washington state and 4 nights in British Columbia, Canada.  Canada is currently requiring covid vaccination and a negative covid test in order to enter the country, so that will be required for this workshop. Fly in to Seattle to arrive by noon on the 6th or fly in the evening before.  Fly out after 2pm on the 13th or you can spend another night near the airport. 

 

Maximum participants: 5 photographers, with spouses/nonphotographers a total of 8.

Leader: Ken Archer is an award winning photographer who lived in Washington state for many years and has photographed extensively in the American West. Ken will give a presentation on photographing birds and wildlife the first evening and help you with your photography in the field. 

Itinerary:

Decemeber 10th - Arrival and pickup at Seattle airport or hotel near the airport and transfer to LaConner, WA.  This afternoon we will photograph Bald Eagles, Swans, Owls, Raptors and large flocks of Snow Geese in the Skagit and Samish Deltas.  Hotel: LaQuinta Inn, Burlington

December 11th - Today we will have a six hour Bald Eagle photography boat trip on the Skagit River where again large numbers of Bald Eagles winter to feed on spawned out salmon.  Then we will check out and drive to Delta, BC and the Fraser River delta.  If we have time a bit of afternoon photography then check into our hotel. Hotel: Coast Tsawwassen Inn.   

December 12th - The Boundary Bay area is a top spot for Snowy Owls and we hope to photograph one or more here.  It's also a great place to photograph a variety of raptors including Nothern Harriers, Short-eared Owls and Rough-legged Hawks.  In addition to Boundary Bay we will visit the Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary.  This is an excellent area to photograph a wide variety of songbirds, waterfowl and usually resident Sandhill Cranes.  They feed the birds here and many of them are quite tame.  Hotel: Coast Tsawwassen Inn. 

December 13th - Morning photography of owls and raptors at Boundary Bay followed by transfer to Squamish, BC for Bald Eagle photography.  Hotel: Sandman Hotel and Suites

December 14th - Full day of Bald Eagle photography on the Squamish River.  This is the largest concentration of Bald Eagles south of Alaska.  Hotel: Sandman Hotel and Suites

December 15th - Morning Bald Eagle photographyollowed by check out and transfer to LaConner, Washington.  Afternoon photography in the Samish Delta of raptors often including Short-eared Owls, Rough-legged Hawks.  Peregrine and Gyrfalcons are possible.  Hotel: LaConner Country Inn.

December 16th - Today we will spend the morning photographing Bald Eagles up river on the Skagit and then return to the Delta in the afternoon to photograph raptors, owls, geese and swans.  Hotel: LaConner Country Inn.

December 17th - Morning photography of Eagles, Raptors, Swans and Snow Geese in the Skagit Delta.  Then check out and return to Seattle airport or airport hotel.  

Note regarding weather: Pacific Northwest winters tend to be overcast and drizzly.  Today's high iso cameras can handle those conditions well but unless we are lucky we won't have a lot of sunny days.