Texas Hill Country Bird Photo Safari & Workshop, May, 2017

We're happy to announce that we're returning to the Texas Hill Country in 2017
Sorry, SOLD OUT -- Waitlist only (safaris [at] cardinalphoto.com).

We do still have openings in our "flagship" Rio Grande Valley Texas Bird Photo Workshop the week before.
 

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 cowboys, scenery, and especially birds...

The Hill Country is an amazing location for photographing both Painted and Indigo Buntings

If you're used to heading to South Texas for bird photography, the Hill Country has plenty of it! 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.

Vermillion Flycatcher, Cardinal Photo Hill Country Photo Safari, Texas

I'm again partnering with the unique Block Creek Natural Area and we're offering a one of a kind Hill Country experience in May, 2017. In addition to the world class photography we'll stay right there on their 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 historic farmhouse cabin dating from the original German settlers and a restored railroad caboose. We'll have home-cooked and local meals. 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.

Enchanted Rock, Cardinal Photo Hill Country Safari, Texas

Our unique Hill Country experience will begin on the afternoon of May 3rd in the Block Creek Natural Area. Early arrivals will be able to shoot from a convenient blind near the house and enjoy a refreshing drink until we all gather for dinner and an introduction to the area. Then we'll have four full days of shooting on one of the best located and best maintained bird photography properties in North America. Everything is close by so the shooting schedules are flexible. Our hosts and guides will also be out doing some scouting for specialty birds migrating in the area that we'll try to work opportunistically. Previous springs we've gotten point blank shots of breeding Vermillion Flycatchers, Summer Tanagers, Scissor-tail Flycatchers, and Painted Buntings, in addition to dozens of species of resident birds and plenty of black-chinned hummingbirds. Each day will feature home-cooked meals right on the ranch, except for a trip one day to the nearby Alamo Cafe for what might be the world's best hamburger (they make a mean blackened shrimp salad too!) Happy hour on the porch while surrounded by birds to photograph is one of the highlights of the day. Accommodations are in one of two lovingly restored historic German farmhouses on the property which date from the original settlement of the area by European farmers in the 1800s.

Black-chinned Hummingbird, Cardinal Photo Hill Country Safari, Texas

For non-shooting companions (or those only interested in a little bit of photography) we're right near the historic LBJ State and National Park, Wildseed Farms wildflower gardens, historic Fredericksburg, several excellent wineries and Enchanted Rock State Park. The immortalized Luckenbach is also nearby and makes for some colorful photography.

Logistics & Cost: The workshop & safari fee of $1,950 includes ranch fees for 4 days (afternoon on arrival, three full days, and the morning we leave) we'll be shooting (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), local guiding, blind and feeder setup, and photo instruction, both in the field and workshop sessions on digital workflow and image editing.

We are also offering excellent accommodations right on the grounds of the BCNA ranches as well as meals, drinks, and transportation during the workshop for the 4 nights for $975 per person double occupancy. (Airport transfers may also be possible). Accommodations on the ranch are limited, so sign up early! If you can't shoot with us for the entire trip and need to leave early (or arrive late) we can provide a discounted rate. We have limited rooming space on the ranch, so a single supplement may or may not be possible.

Early bird & couples discounts: We're offereing a discount of $200 for anyone who is also attending our Rio Grande Valley photo workshop the previous week. And as always there is a $200 discount for a companion booking at the same time and sharing a room.

Slideshow of Selected images from my Hill Country & Rio Grande Valley workshops

Special bonus for enthusiasts! If you sign up for both my Rio Grande Valley Photo Safari & Workshop and the Hill Country Safari & Workshop the following week, I'll give you a $200 additional discount.

Summer Tanager, Cardinal Photo Hill Country Safari, Texas

As always we'll have a digital projector and screen and will be teaching (optional) sessions on workflow, landscape and scenic photography, 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.

You can sign up by placing your deposit on our secure online web site, or with a credit card or if you need more information, by emailing, calling, or faxing us.
E-mail: safaris [at] cardinalphoto.com
or Call +1.650.851.8350, fax +1.650.206.2980.

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