Santa Clara Ranch, South Texas 2017-Brown Crested Flycatcher
Jun 27, 2017 11:28:17 #
Jun 27, 2017 11:41:29 #
Nice shot! Hope you don't mind but I have some questions about the ranch. It is kind of in the middle of nowhere- which is good for photography-but did you find the logistics of getting there to be a hassle? Relative to other photo tours it is affordable but when you factoring in air fare and car rental it starts coming closer to the $3000 range. How do you rate the value of your time spent there? Were you happy with the photo opportunities during your time there? Did you get the photos you hoped for? Hector's web site photos and videos are some of the best I've seen.
Jun 27, 2017 11:53:06 #
Wonderful images, Pat. You can't go wrong with the Santa Clara Ranch. The Rio Grande Valley is among the best for wildlife photography, especially birds, and you will find most, if not all at the Santa Clara.
Jun 27, 2017 12:24:14 #
Jay Pat wrote:
Fellow hogger, Wapiti (Bill) and I went to Santa Clara Ranch for bird photography this past May. This photography ranch was established several years ago and they have it figured out. Hector is the ranch manager and he was our guide. I'll be posting my favorites.
Pat
Pat
Great photos. But I don't understand what they "figured out" - are the birds in the wild? If so, how is it different than going to a local park or forest preserve? I guess I'm new enough to not know what a photography ranch is. Thanks.
Jun 27, 2017 12:39:03 #
MikWar wrote:
Great photos. But I don't understand what they "figured out" - are the birds in the wild? If so, how is it different than going to a local park or forest preserve? I guess I'm new enough to not know what a photography ranch is. Thanks.
The birds are definitely "in the wild". If you're going to get great pictures of songbirds, raptors, etc., you must have a source of food, as well as water in an arid and hot area such as the Rio Grande Valley. They have that at the Santa Clara, as well as other ranches in South Texas, which cater to wildlife photographers. Blinds are constructed to conceal the photographers. If this bothers you, then go out and wait for something to "come along". Good luck with that.
Jun 27, 2017 12:41:45 #
MikWar wrote:
Great photos. But I don't understand what they "figured out" - are the birds in the wild? If so, how is it different than going to a local park or forest preserve? I guess I'm new enough to not know what a photography ranch is. Thanks.
http://lagunasecaranch.com/index.html
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Jun 27, 2017 19:29:35 #
wapiti wrote:
. ... If this bothers you, then go out and wait for something to "come along". Good luck with that.
I've done that a lot and don't have the variety of birds that I want :)
Jun 27, 2017 20:40:29 #
Jun 27, 2017 21:41:56 #
Thanks, everyone for taking time to look at the images and commenting!!!
Pat
Pat
Jun 27, 2017 21:43:08 #
Jun 27, 2017 22:02:39 #
Jun 27, 2017 22:14:42 #
suntouched wrote:
Nice shot! Hope you don't mind but I have some que... (show quote)
For us, a six hour drive from Round Rock.
I have nothing to compare to as this is the first time for me. I have been to two of the wildlife refuges in S Texas during the winter and I was very disappointed in the lack of activity.
I was very happy!!!!
I got plenty of images and variety of birds.
We were hoping to see small pigs (can't spell the name). Maybe a bobcat. Didn't see either one.
We went out, 7am-11am and 4pm-8pm.
There are two morning blinds and two afternoon blinds.
There is one morning and one afternoon rapture blinds. These are regularly baited at least twice a week. Raptures were waiting for Hector to get out of the way and back in the blind. We visited the morning rapture blind.
We were there for three days of shooting.
If it rains just before you get there or while you are there, photo ops will be slim.... What can you do about mother nature....
I have some ideas to consider. I need to think about this more.
Pat
Jun 27, 2017 22:18:10 #
MikWar wrote:
Great photos. But I don't understand what they "figured out" - are the birds in the wild? If so, how is it different than going to a local park or forest preserve? I guess I'm new enough to not know what a photography ranch is. Thanks.
They have been several maintained watering holes along with bird feed. The wildlife has a reliable water and food.
Pat
Jun 27, 2017 22:20:46 #
suntouched wrote:
I've done that a lot and don't have the variety of birds that I want :)
The temperature was about 100 degrees, plus or minus.
The hotter the temps, the hotter the birds get. Birds get/are thirsty!
Pat
Jun 27, 2017 23:32:03 #
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