Trogon Photo Tours

TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

April 18-22, 2022

Photo Workshop: This workshop features photography at 2 different Texas Hill Country ranches, 2 other water drips and a visit to one of the largest bat colonies in the US.  The highlights include both natural light and multi-flash hummingbird photography, Painted Buntings, a reasonable chance for scarce birds such as Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, mammals such as Gray Fox and White-tailed Deer and a visit to a huge Mexican Free-tailed Bat colony where raptors often hunt the bats. 

Leaders: Nate Chappell and Melody Lytle.  We will also be working with local photographers at the ranches.  Nate will give a presentation on photographing birds and wildlife and help you get the most out of your workshop with advice in the field.  



Cost and Logistics: The cost is $2,695 with a $400 single supplement, $1,500 for a nonphotographer spouse/companion.  The cost includes all lodging, local transportation, guiding, photo instruction and ranch fees.  It does not include meals or flights to arrive in Austin, Texas.  The arrival and departure city is Austin, Texas.  If you are flying in we will arrange transport from the airport to the first hotel.

Number of Participants: Maximum of 5 photographers.

Itinerary:

April 18th - Meet at the airport in San Antonio by noon if you are flying in, if you are driving meet us at the hotel in Fredericsburg, TX. Then we will go to Thiele Ranch for an afternoon photography session.  Hotel: A nice hotel in Fredericksburg, Texas.  

April 19th - We will spend the full day photographing at Thiele Ranch.  Thiele Ranch has drips and feeders which attract small birds such as Painted Buntings, Eastern Bluebirds and Black-crested Titmouse.  Large numbers of Black-chinned Hummingbirds visit the hummingbird feeders allowing us to do both natural light and one morning of multi-flash hummingbird photography.  Wild Turkeys, Gray Fox and White-tailed Deer can be photographed from blinds on other parts of the ranch.  Hotel: A nice hotel in historic Fredericksburg. 

April 20th - We will spend the morning photographing at Thiele Ranch again, then check out and head south.  We will check in to our hotel in Uvalde, Texas.  Then in the evening we will head to a location where huge numbers of Mexican Free-tailed Bats exit a cave in the evening.  Cave Swallows can also be photographed here and raptors such as Red-tailed Hawk and Peregrine Falcon often join the spectacle to take a bat for dinner.  Then we will proceed to our hotel in Uvalde, Texas, the Hampton Inn.

April 21st - We will spend the whole day today at another ranch near Bracketville where Black-capped Vireo and Golden-cheeked Warbler are likely.  There are lots of other good birds here including Scott's Orioles, Vermillion Flycatchers and more.  In the evening we will return to the Hampton Inn in Uvalde

April 22nd - Today we visit another ranch near Uvalde that has a variety of birds including Bullock's Orioles, White-eyed Vireo, Scaled Quail and more.  Then we will drive you back to the airport in San Antonio for your return flight home or drop you at a hotel near the airport if your flight is the next morning.