Varied Bunting in the Huachucas
Southeast Arizona Sky Island Birds "Shoot Alongs"
I’ve had several people tell me they would like to come along on some of my bird "shooting" trips this spring. I'm posting some trips I currently have scheduled for myself and I am willing to take a couple of people with me for a minimal charge. I want to make this perfectly clear up front though, I have set up these trips to build up MY portfolio and I have specific goals in mind. I can take no more than a couple on each trip but I want you to be totally aware that once we start shooting I'm going to be concentrating on getting the shots I want. If this was a guided trip, my shots would be of secondary importance, but I really need to build my portfolio and skills as well. Of course I'll be glad to share what I know but I don't want there to be any misunderstandings while we are shooting. I have every intention of leading bird photography trips in the future, so if you want a trip where my efforts are concentrated on just helping you and other clients wait for those in the future but I have no problem taking fellow photographers along as long as they understand why I'm there this year. Since I have set up all the accomodations, visited them before, and provide a blind and perches I will be asking you to help with some of my expenses, but only that.
Depending on the location, I will be sitting in blind (s) near my room or hiking along rivers and or canyons looking for particular species.
SE AZ has been listed as the 3rd best birding area in the US. With fifteen species of hummingbirds, Elegant Trogon, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Flame-colored Tanager, 36 species of wood warblers, and over 256 species of birds documented, it is a "required" site for all serious birders. The diversity of many groups of animals and plants is high in each area and none will be ignored.
Where: Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista
When: arrive Friday March 30 and leave April 2nd
Emphasis:I will be staying at Battiste's Bed, Breakfast, and birds http://www.battistebedandbirds.com). I shot there last year, loved it, and have become friends with the owner. Tony Batistte is a photographer and a professional bird tour leader. I will concentrate on bird photography out of blinds on his property for 2 days, and take one visit to the San Pedro, and on the 4th morning search the canyons on Fort Huachuca to shoot painted redstarts and other possible migrants.
Costs: On this trip I've reserved the Owl's Roost which does have 2 separate rooms with separate bath's as well. One of the rooms has a queen bed, the other a full sized and a twin. If you are willing to share a room then your cost is $105 a night, if you want your own room it is $175. All breakfasts are provided and I will cook salmon/halibut I caught in the ocean in AK on the grill Saturday evening. You are welcome to stay the whole time, or just a couple. If you are able to spend the whole period then you are welcome to ride down with me.
Birds: I just got off the phone with Tony today (3/23) and he stated the Vermillons on the San Pedro and the redstarts in the canyons on Fort Huachuca are brillantly colored and singing which will make it much easier for us to photograph them. When hiking I find some birds I'm interested in, set up a blind and some perches, and play tapes of the birds songs. If you object to tape playing please don't come with me as I'm very careful how I do it and I have read no good data that is actually harms the birds at all. This sometimes makes for a lot of hiking though as all birds don't respond. You will want to bring a flash on the river and in the canyons for fill flash. On his property Tony has 2 blinds with water features which bring in the local residents and I timed this trip to catch some of the early migrants. For sure, expect the residents, Cactus and Bewick's wrens, verdins, acorn woodpeckers, bushtit, ladder backed woodpeckers, green tailed and abert's towhees, Scotts orioles, and elf owl pictures early evening. There should be many more species but I hesitate to advertise maybe's. I will say I'm hoping for all 3 oriole species which Tony does suspect in a week and a half.
Where: Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains.
Where and when: Arrive at the Santa Rita Lodge (http://www.santaritalodge.com/home.html) in Madera Canyon Friday afternoon April 13 and stay until April 17.
Emphasis:
Costs: Santa Rita Lodge has several casitas, cabins, or rooms with 2 beds each so double occupancy will be easier than the Huachuca’s. I will provide an AK caught salmon dinner the first evening. Costs for 3 nights, photo instructions, guided hikes, and one dinner is estimated at $450. Costs of additional day will depend on the number staying.
Depending on the location, I will be sitting in blind (s) near my room or hiking along rivers and or canyons looking for particular species.
SE AZ has been listed as the 3rd best birding area in the US. With fifteen species of hummingbirds, Elegant Trogon, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Flame-colored Tanager, 36 species of wood warblers, and over 256 species of birds documented, it is a "required" site for all serious birders. The diversity of many groups of animals and plants is high in each area and none will be ignored.
Where: Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista
When: arrive Friday March 30 and leave April 2nd
Emphasis:I will be staying at Battiste's Bed, Breakfast, and birds http://www.battistebedandbirds.com). I shot there last year, loved it, and have become friends with the owner. Tony Batistte is a photographer and a professional bird tour leader. I will concentrate on bird photography out of blinds on his property for 2 days, and take one visit to the San Pedro, and on the 4th morning search the canyons on Fort Huachuca to shoot painted redstarts and other possible migrants.
Costs: On this trip I've reserved the Owl's Roost which does have 2 separate rooms with separate bath's as well. One of the rooms has a queen bed, the other a full sized and a twin. If you are willing to share a room then your cost is $105 a night, if you want your own room it is $175. All breakfasts are provided and I will cook salmon/halibut I caught in the ocean in AK on the grill Saturday evening. You are welcome to stay the whole time, or just a couple. If you are able to spend the whole period then you are welcome to ride down with me.
Birds: I just got off the phone with Tony today (3/23) and he stated the Vermillons on the San Pedro and the redstarts in the canyons on Fort Huachuca are brillantly colored and singing which will make it much easier for us to photograph them. When hiking I find some birds I'm interested in, set up a blind and some perches, and play tapes of the birds songs. If you object to tape playing please don't come with me as I'm very careful how I do it and I have read no good data that is actually harms the birds at all. This sometimes makes for a lot of hiking though as all birds don't respond. You will want to bring a flash on the river and in the canyons for fill flash. On his property Tony has 2 blinds with water features which bring in the local residents and I timed this trip to catch some of the early migrants. For sure, expect the residents, Cactus and Bewick's wrens, verdins, acorn woodpeckers, bushtit, ladder backed woodpeckers, green tailed and abert's towhees, Scotts orioles, and elf owl pictures early evening. There should be many more species but I hesitate to advertise maybe's. I will say I'm hoping for all 3 oriole species which Tony does suspect in a week and a half.
Where: Madera Canyon in the Santa Rita Mountains.
Where and when: Arrive at the Santa Rita Lodge (http://www.santaritalodge.com/home.html) in Madera Canyon Friday afternoon April 13 and stay until April 17.
Emphasis:
Costs: Santa Rita Lodge has several casitas, cabins, or rooms with 2 beds each so double occupancy will be easier than the Huachuca’s. I will provide an AK caught salmon dinner the first evening. Costs for 3 nights, photo instructions, guided hikes, and one dinner is estimated at $450. Costs of additional day will depend on the number staying.
