Maximum 6 photographers, 4 openings

When most people think of Texas they don't think of hills. But the aptly named Hill Country is an exception. A broad band of land north of San Antonio it features hills, rivers and lots of birds...

Like most wild areas, though, the birds may be numerous but they are hard to find. Wandering around the parks there might be okay for birders with spotting scopes, but to get photographs of some of their local specialties like the Vermillion Flycatcher, the Green Kingfisher or even the many Indigo and Painted Buntings it helps to have the reliable surroundings of well designed bird blinds coupled with consistent and effective feeding and watering stations. Fortunately for those of us eager to capture images of these hard to find birds and the many other species of birds that make their home in South Texas there are well developed bird photographer friendly ranch properties in the Hill Country.

Painted Bunting

I'm so thrilled with the photo successes I've had there that I'm delighted to announce that starting next year I'll be able to share them with people through a Hill Country Bird Photo Safari. I'm partnering with the unique Block Creek Natural Area and we're offering a one of a kind Hill Country experience in April, 2010. In addition to the world class bird photography we'll stay right there on the ranches which have been in the family for generations and are still part of a group of working ranches. Picturesque accommodations will include a creek-side cabin, a restored railroad caboose and a renovated historic cabin. We'll have home-cooked and local meals including a chuck wagon dinner. The local beauty makes this trip unusually flexible compared to many other Texas photo safaris. We'll have opportunities for scenics, macro and reptile photography in addition to the birds.

Vermillion Flycatcher: A pair of resident Vermillion Flycatchers are one of the unique features of one of the ranches we'll be using during our Hill Country Bird Photo Safari

The workshop & safari fee of $2250 includes all local transportation (we'll commute to the ranches by van, which helps keep the birds habituated versus a string of cars and allows us to chat & answer questions on the way to and from each shoot), ranch fees (these are private properties which the owners have put a tremendous amount of effort into making bird photography paradise, so shooting on them is not inexpensive), and photo instruction, both in the field and workshop sessions on digital workflow and image editing. We are also providing excellent accomodations right on the grounds of the BCNA ranches as well as meals and drinks during the week for $1550 per person double occupancy for the six nights.

Slideshow of Selected images from my Hill Country Trip

Special bonus for enthusiasts! If you sign up for both my Rio Grande Valley Photo Safari & Workshop (April 18-24) and the Hill Country Safari & Workshop (April 25-May 1), I'll give you a $200 additional discount and a ride up from the Rio Grande Valley to the Hill Country. Then you'll get two full weeks of world class bird photography on many different and unique private, guided ranches in a variety of habitats and plenty of personal instruction to go along with it. All with just a single air trip!

As always we'll have a digital projector and screen and will be teaching (optional) sessions on workflow, bird photography and digital image processing techniques as they relate to nature photography. And I'm always available for personal photo instruction, photo critiques and of course everyone is invited to contribute their images to the popular last night slide show. I keep the group to a maximum of 6 photographers so that we all have plenty of time to work together and make the most out of the week.

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird