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Booking far in advance, our flight was changed multiple times before the May 24th departure date. In the end result all that changed was our flight time from Portland and
soon enough the day arrived. We had a long layover in Atlanta but the outbound flight was per the itinerary. Steve and Pam (aka Sparky) were already in the area and checked
into the hotel in Boerne, Texas, where we based ourselves for the entire trip. Steve had already reconnoitered the area around the hotel for birds and noted several species
to check out once we got situated. We arrived at the San Antonio airport around 1600 hours, retrieved our bags and waited for a time for Steve and Pam to pick us up. Boerne is about forty miles northwest of San Antonio and about an hour later we were checking into our hotel. Our time in Texas was underway… Pam & Steve at the Cadillac (Mountain) Summit Center, Fall 2010 - Bar Habor, Maine |
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Once we checked in I inventoried and unpacked the camera equipment to ascertain everything made the journey in good working order – which it did. I assembled the 600mm
lens system and got everything prepared for field use. Afterwards we joined Steve and Sparky and walked across the way to a Chili’s restaurant, really convenient to our
hotel. It was early evening and still quite hot with plenty of sunshine, nearly 100 degrees even at that hour. We enjoyed a fine dinner and got caught up, discussed plans
and what the following days would bring for adventures. I didn’t waste any time… Steve knew where several birds that would be new to my
Bird Photography Index were located
and after dinner I carried the tripod downstairs and we started the hunt - adding the first and second new species, the
White-winged Dove and Great-tailed Grackle….
White-winged Dove Around the Hotel...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/9 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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As it got later we observed some ducks off in the distance, looking as if they were gathering to roost. Due to the white wing flash in flight, we thought these
were Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Later we learned they were Egyptian Goose and we tracked them down to obtain some photographs.
It had been a long day and we still had unpacking and other preparations to complete to get settled in. Because of the warmth of the days and air-conditioning in the hotel, I informed Steve I thought it best to keep the lenses locked in the truck. Going from cooled indoor conditions to hot weather can cause significant condensation issues and this was best to avoid. We kept the glass at ambient temperature throughout our time, although moving the long lens/tripod system was a bit of a pain at times as the bed of the truck was open. Linda and I were early to bed this evening – we planned to leave the hotel at 0630 hours in the morning and wished to be rested… Egyptian Goose Flight - Boerne, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/500 at f/8, ISO 640 |
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We’d never considered checking what time the park opened – we were ready to go somewhere so we started out… However, once arriving we saw that the gate didn’t
open before 0800 hours. This was surprising to us because most of the places we frequent in Maine or Georgia are open from sunrise to dusk. We had at least
thirty-minutes to wait so we drove along the roadway looking for whatever we could find. We’d observed quite a few
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers along the power lines and
thought perhaps we could find one to photograph. It was a beautiful morning and we were pleased to be out in nice weather after all the May rain in Maine. We’d had
so much rain that it had curtailed my efforts to photograph the spring warbler migration through our area – one of my favorite times. The birds came through but
photographing them in the high canopy in the rain got depressing quickly. On the other hand, the Hill Country was in the midst of a severe drought. Steve indicated
had he known this fact he may have selected a different location because the area is usually lush and green this time of year, but what we observed was burned up and brown
everywhere. Many of the creeks and rivers we traveled by were exceptionally low or in some cases no water was present whatsoever…
Camera System on the Roadside...Canon EOS 5d and EF400mm f/5.6L; 1/640 at f/8, ISO 1000 |
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We got into the park and learned the fee was $7 per person – yikes we thought, this is going to get expensive for the numerous places we intended to visit. This discussion
led to one of our smartest moves in Texas… We chipped in and bought an annual pass, placing it in Steve’s name as the driver. This was only $60 and allows the
entire party into a facility – all you need do is check in, exhibit the pass and provide the staff a head count. They in turn provide a day pass that is taped to
the windshield and off you go. While we were in the office I could see some feeders out back with a plethora of hummingbirds flitting about. I knew at some point I’d
be set up out back seeking these birds –
Black-chinned Hummingbirds, as the 3rd new species for the Index.
Steve and Pam at Guadalupe River State Park, Spring Branch, Texas... |
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So far there were few people around the park. We checked the grounds and decided to walk along the river. I didn’t bring any short focal length lenses along although I
did shoot a few landscapes at 400 millimeters along the way. We didn’t observe an overabundance of bird activity and didn't see much out of the ordinary - but this
didn't denote any lack of possibilities. Most of the activity appeared to be across the river
where the image scale wasn’t conducive to what we were seeking in any event. This is a beautiful park and we enjoyed our time near the river. We walked the paths parallel to
the water looking for whatever we could find and then returned the same way. Another new bird was added for the Index at this park, number four - an
Inca Dove, the first I’d ever photographed…
Inca Dove - Guadalupe River State Park, Spring Branch, Texas ...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/7.1 with Flash, ISO 640 |
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We walked back to the entrance building and I dropped the tripod to get below the branches obscuring the hummingbird feeders. This was a pleasant spot with some
shade, benches and even a gazebo with some chairs should anyone choose to sit there. A pair of
Bewick’s Wrens had a nest under the roof of the gazebo – we tracked
these wrens whenever we could hoping to get a shot in the clear on one or both – again, this was a new species for the Index and a bird we would see often in our
Hill Country travels.
Bewick's Wren - Guadalupe River State Park, Spring Branch, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/11 with Flash, ISO 640 |
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After checking out the Black-chinned Hummingbird activity and investigating the best place to set up to photograph these quick little creatures, it was found there was
really no optimum spot. The area around the feeders was somewhat confined and even setting up a shoot zone was difficult with the branches in the way. I dropped
the tripod low to obtain a line of sight, put on my knee pads – essential gear I’ve found for serious photography afield, and went to work…
Seeking Hummingbirds - Sparky's Photograph of Kiro in the Shoot Zone ... |
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During our time in the park we’d visited and hiked around the river, walked the creek on the opposite side of the grounds, although there was no water present with the drought
going on, and looked for critters to photograph. The creek portion was out in the open and the sun was blazing. Completing our morning session around the hummingbird feeders
turned out to be wise. Before we left we talked with some of the staff, including the Office Manager, Bill Beach. Bill indicated the Honey Creek area of the park isn’t open to
the public, but stated it was well worth the time to visit and suggested we return on Saturday for the 0900 guided walking tour that visits the creek. We took his card,
indicated we’d be happy to share any photographs from the day and we may just come back on Saturday. Shortly afterwards we were packed and enjoying the wonderful air conditioning
of the truck as we headed back to Boerne...
Bee and Cone Flower - Guadalupe River State Park, Spring Branch, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/11 with Flash, ISO 640 |
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We got back to the hotel, grabbed some lunch and took about a three-hour siesta. During this time the ladies enjoyed the pool and kicked back. I did what I always do when not
in the field – downloaded the media cards to my laptop, backed up the files and started the image evaluation process until completed, not too likely when shooting daily, or for as
much time as I could allocate
before something else came up. I found for the most part the daily image groups weren’t all that large compared to other trips due to the heat and shortened field periods. Today
I’d shot around 2.5 GB of data – a couple
of hundred images or so. Probably my compatriots found me boring – either behind the camera or at the computer most of time, but one never knows if something requires a re-shoot or
the images for the new bird we’d found weren’t acceptable or whatever. The only way to prevent an unpleasant surprise once it’s too late is to check the data after the session and attempt
to remain current. This also aids in learning if changes are required in shoot methods - what's working and what's not in the field for similiar conditions.
Steve and I were in the hotel parking lot unloading the truck when a local lady came over to speak with us. She asked about the camera gear and what we were doing, so we informed her about the nature photography effort. We asked about where the ducks we’d observed were located. She wasn’t certain about this, but did tell us about a creek close to the hotel behind a housing facility that had trails and was known in the area to be a birding hotspot. We discussed this and Steve and I determined to check it out once our siesta ended and hopefully it cooled off a bit. Traveling Companions – Steve and Pam - Taken with Their Camera... |
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When the time came Sparky elected to stay at the hotel to take care of some things and relax, so the three of us re-geared the truck and went off to seek out the creek we’d
learned about. It wasn’t difficult and it was indeed right down the access road from the hotel. We didn’t have a lot of time available as we had plans for dinner with some
local friends of Steve and Pam’s. But the time we had was sufficient and we enjoyed the area and birds flitting about. It was still quite hot and I was uncomfortable when
standing in the sun without cover. Fortunately the creek was shaded mostly and had some feeders and benches around, although upon investigation the feeders were empty and
appeared to have been that way for some time. There were quite a few birds around – Summer Tanagers, Painted Buntings, White-eyed Vireos, Northern Cardinals – apparently
the ‘junk bird of the Texas Hill Country’ – many cardinals. We tried, usually without success, to close the distance on some – they weren’t having any part of it however, but
we did obtain some shots. The highlight of this session was when we spotted a
Louisiana Waterthrush foraging around the creek – this represented the sixth new species for the Index…
Summer Tanager - Boerne, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/9 with Flash, ISO 800 |
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The Welfare General Store was a neat place… You walk into the building where they have old coolers with beer and other drinks, stroll up to the counter, pay a flat fee for dinner, then
walk through the building to the outside dining area. They do have an indoor hall one passes through to the exterior, but dinner this evening was served outside. Once out in the yard
they have picnic tables, a platform for a live entertainment, in this case a band was setting up, as well as cooking facilities. Steak was the main entrée this evening but other
selections were available. The meal also comes with various choices in appetizers, salads and desserts. The band cranked up as we found a table and settled in. A few of us went off
to find some cold beer while everyone chatted. I didn’t bring my camera into the dinner area, but Sparky had her point and shoot along. The following images came from her camera…
David and Kathy Moore at the Welfare General Store... |
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After dinner we decided to meet back in Boerne at a local restaurant and micro-brewery, the
Dodging Duck Brewhaus and Restaurant. We stopped in for a time and tried some of their
beers, which all appeared to be excellent. We didn’t stay too long, we’d had a long day and were still establishing a relationship with the hot days – the heat can
really wear one down we found. Plus Dave had to make the commute into San Antonio and work in the morning. I learned something I didn’t know about the area – San Antonio
is the seventh largest city in the United States. I had no idea about this but did learn the traffic patterns around the city support this fact – traffic was active with
plenty of vehicles around. We said our good-nights and returned to the hotel to rest up…
Pam's Photograph of Steve at Dinner - Welfare, Texas... |
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Not far from our morning’s destination we drove by a deer that had been hit by a vehicle. The poor animal wasn’t quite dead but clearly was on the way out. The
Turkey Vultures
were standing by patiently awaiting the demise, supported by several
Black Vultures, and another species we were pleased to see, a pair of
Crested Caracara. Supposedly common in
the Hill Country, this was the first caracara we’d observed so far. Steve asked if I wanted to stop – 'absolutely' was the reply. We were quite far away when I exited the
truck. These birds must have a wide-ranging comfort zone though, because as soon as I stepped out one flew off immediately. Steve’s truck has a short bed and with the other gear
we carried along, I had to keep the tripod legs closed up in transit. This differed from my truck when transporting the lens. If I’m out and about planning to use the lens and tripod, it
remains extended and prepared for rapid deployment. There are times when you may have only a few seconds to attempt a shot. Extending the legs is no big deal but it does take a
few seconds before the system can be stood up for use. In this case it really didn’t matter, the first caracara flew off instantly and I’d only taken a few steps before the other
skedaddled. Then all the vultures flew off, although some didn’t go far. I was ready by now, so I took a few exposures so the stop wouldn’t be a total bust, or in case something
decided to fly back into the area.
Turkey Vulture Along the Road...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/11 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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Not far from the park entrance we came across a general store and stopped to get out of the vehicle and stretch our legs for a time. The store entrance had an open porch deck with
four or five hummingbird feeders hanging. The hummingbird count here was greater than any place we’d observed so far in Texas – there appeared to be hundreds at these feeders and the activity
level was rampant. We also noticed they had a concrete slab about fifteen feet from the porch, where they broadcasted corn and birdseed. There were all kinds of birds flitting in and
out of this area, including some new species or others I hadn’t observed since I was in the south. I couldn’t stand it – our party was spread out doing various things, so I pulled
the tripod out of the truck bed and set up to take some shots on the incoming activity… One bird I was pleased to get in front of my lens was the
Lark Sparrow. We’d viewed some of these yesterday, but this time I was able to obtain some exposures at a much closer approach.
I was pleased about this – the day hadn’t really commenced and I’d already added new species number seven for the Index.
Lark Sparrow - Vanderpool, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/800 at f/10, ISO 400 |
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We drove around the park and Steve and Pam pointed out areas where they’d camped and talked about their experiences here. Again Steve commented that everything appeared far different
now with the drought in progress. He missed the green fields with waves of wildflowers that would make such fine imaging subjects. This condition was having a negative impact on the
bird life also it seemed. We suspected many of the species we hoped to find in the Hill Country had moved on to more water and better sources of subsistence. We were always in agreement
with riding around in the truck to reconnoiter – it was cool and out of the sun. However, we were here to find and photograph birds – not the only thing we planned to do but this was
the primary goal for this visit today. We stopped to check out at a parking area that had a bird observation blind. This area had a good bit of activity and I set up to stay for a
time. The blind faced into an area with several feeders and good cover for birds – we could see the value of this and it was in a great location, but it wasn’t suitable for imaging
as the opening had Plexiglas windows you’d have to shoot through. Entrance beyond the fence was prohibited so I set up outside in a spot hoping to cover as much of the field as possible.
Painted Bunting...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/9 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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We stayed set up in this area for nearly two hours. I had subjects moving around so I was content except for being in direct sunlight more than I would have preferred, but
everyone else was seeking new venues and started to spread out. Linda spotted a bird she didn’t recognize in the tree line off to our left. When she described the unusual
glossy blue wing coloration we realized she’d spotted a Bronzed Cowbird and we all tried to relocate the bird. Unfortunately this was our only sighting of this species, although
later on other people we spoke with indicated they are fairly common in the Hill Country. I’d taken several images on a sparrow species, not really knowing what it was at
first. It wasn’t familiar so I thought it may be something new. We did find that western variations of some of the same birds we observe in the east differ enough to warrant a
second look. Later we determined this was a
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, a southwestern species that became the ninth new species for the Index in Texas.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow - A New Species for the Index...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/14 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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Steve and I were talking about things in general and sipping some water when a
Western Scrub-Jay flew into a tree in my immediate left front. These birds are easily
recognizable and look much their scrub-jay cousins in other parts of the country. This was an easy addition I thought, and this bird became the tenth new species from
the Hill Country…
Western Scrub-Jay...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/500 at f/8 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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There were more than birds around of course… The Hill Country is chock-full of deer – they are everywhere and when driving around they can be spotted in fields and
forest, alongside and in the road – all over the place. I planned on getting a few shots on some for the photographic record at some point. I learned that deer represent
a significant hazard to motorcyclists as well as four-wheeled traffic in the Hill Country. Many riders won’t venture out at night because bike/deer collisions are commonplace
and can easily be fatal. We also noticed that nearly all the trucks around exhibited front grill protection – mostly steel frame structures designed to intercept road strikes before
they can smash the front end, protecting the vehicle and occupants. We figured this must be a common commodity for purchase at most parts stores because we observed many of
these on the road. Steve pointed out some Black Ground Squirrels, easily distinguishable from their gray and fox brethren, and asked me to get some exposures on them if possible. As
we talked about this one was approaching not far away, then the squirrel spotted us standing upright and ran for the hills. I did get a few long distance shots on these critters
but wasn’t satisfied with the end result.
Fox Squirrel - Lost Maples State Natural Area - Vanderpool, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/500 at f/8 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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As I looked around I realized everyone had cleared the area seeking new adventures – I was alone. It was time to move on so I slung the tripod over my right shoulder and started
up the path on the East Trail. After a few minutes I ran into Steve and Linda watching a distant tree line where they’d observed some movement. They pointed out a beautiful
Lesser Goldfinch in a tree – a bright spot of gold in a sea of green. I dropped the tripod and took a
few exposures – the eleventh new species for the Index, but I wasn’t satisfied with
shooting at this distance. This species became one I’d make a point to track down and photograph if possible. People in Maine often mention they have Lesser Goldfinch at their
feeders – the females and younger birds do look similar to our eastern American Goldfinch. A male Lesser in breeding plumage is unmistakable however compared to the American. These
birds rarely get east of where were now in Texas although they can be spotted as rarities in the east from time to time. This wasn’t a terrific observation but it was exciting
all the same…
Female Lesser Goldfinch - Lost Maples State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/10 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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The path was somewhat under the canopy of trees to my right; the trees bordered the trail on that side. To the left where the Lesser Goldfinch had been spotted, the tree line was quite far away. I could see activity
above me and attempted to maneuver into a spot that would provide a line of sight for an exposure. My recently purchased Really Right Stuff TV-33 tripod was proving to be an
asset in this type of shooting. It’s eight inches taller than my other heavy-duty tripod, a Gitzo GT5530 – a useful benefit when shooting high into a canopy. Both these tripods
are rated for a fifty pound payload and are constructed of carbon fiber – strong and light. The few glimpses of the birds I was stalking indicated they were some type of
flycatcher. I thought they may be Willow Flycatchers, but as exhibited in the image at left the tail shape doesn’t appear to be correct for this species. This was the best
photograph I obtained – not exactly definitive, but Steve and I identified this as an Acadian Fycatcher due to the field markings. If correct this would be a new species for the Index,
but as this was the only usable shot available I elected not to count it.
Linda came back down to find me on the path. She stated they found a
Red-tailed Hawk nest across the gully on a cliff face
they wished to show me...
Acadian Flycatcher - Lost Maples State Natural Area - Vanderpool, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/14 with Flash, ISO 400 |
When we got to the place on the trail Linda and Sparky pointed out where the nest was located, far off on a distant ledge. I was duly impressed – although clearly visible once you knew
it was there – I wondered how they managed to spot this… Actually the mystery didn’t last long – as I looked around I noticed a sign with information about the nest. It still
had to be located on the ledge but this was a significant clue I thought… We observed this nest for a time and looked for other activity around the area. It was hot and it looked
like everyone was ready to sit around for a time and take it easy. I advanced the tripod closer towards the Red-tailed Hawk nest to get underneath some power lines that were in
the field of view. The nest was a long way off but I could see one young hawk through the 600mm lens. Later I observed at least three in the nest. As we waited one of the parent
hawks flew into the area with a captured squirrel. We were probably hundreds of yards from the ledge face separated by a significant rocky gully between us, but it appeared the adult wouldn’t
return to the nest because we were observing the location. I took a series of exposures on the adult in flight and soon we moved off just in case.
Red-tailed Hawk Chick - Lost Maples State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/200 at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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Steve and Pam Along the Trail - Lost Maples State Natural Area - Vanderpool, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/24~105mm f/4L; 1/80 at f/6.3, ISO 400 |
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Steve and I were discussing the bird activity and where we wished to go next. He expressed surprise at not seeing any Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. Last time he was here they
were abundant – now he didn’t even hear any woodpeckers or much else in the distance. It wasn’t more than five-minutes later that I spotted a pair of woodpeckers flying
around the trees playing or in mock combat. Once I got a clear look through the lens I knew exactly what they were – the twelfth new species for my Index located in
Texas –
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers. This was really going well… These woodpeckers, just a bit larger in size and
somewhat similar in appearance to a Downy Woodpecker, were
beautiful. I called Steve and Linda over and we tracked the woodpeckers hoping they’d come closer. I asked Linda to get the iPod to play their call – maybe they’d come
over to investigate, and they did…
Prickly Pear Cactus Detail - Lost Maples State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/13 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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The day was progressing rapidly and we discussed either going further up the trail or what else to do. We elected to leave the area and find a place to have lunch, which we
carried with us on ice in a cooler, before leaving the park. We found a nice place with tables and that is just what we did, making sandwiches with the bread, lunch meat and
condiments we carried along. It was warm but pleasant, and we enjoyed the park with few people around. At left is a photograph from Steve and Pam’s camera of the view we had
during lunch… As can be noted in the photograph, the tripod system was always parked in a ready to use state. You just never know when an opportunity may be presented so it’s
best to be prepared.
View at Lunch - Lost Maples State Natural Area - Vanderpool, Texas... |
We left Lost Maples heading back towards Boerne and the hotel. On the return trip we drove through Kerrville, another town Steve and Pam had spent time in during previous Texas
visits. We drove around the area and they directed us to some points of interest. I can’t speak for everyone, but I wasn’t displeased about getting back into the cool of the truck
for a time and doing some sightseeing through the windows. Besides, we could always pull over if we viewed something of photographic interest. We decided to do as we had
yesterday, get back to the hotel to shower and rest up for a time, and then venture out for a shorter early evening session somewhere around Boerne.
Steve and Pam at the Truck - Lost Maples State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/8 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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Steve, Linda and I did venture out later in the day. Pam’s hip had been causing some difficulties, exacerbated
with all the hiking and truck time we’d been doing. She decided to stay at the hotel to enjoy
the pool and rest up to stay out of the truck for a time. One place we’d talked about checking was the Boerne Reservoir and Steve had asked around about how to locate this
facility. This wasn’t as simple as one may think because you got there via one of the access roads off the highway and it took a few tries to get to the correct road on the right
side of the highway. We’d hoped to find ducks and perhaps some other waterfowl at the reservoir, but when we arrived and checked the grounds we observed no birds on the water and
few in the surrounding trees. When we got out of the vehicle to look around the outside temperature was intense. It only took a matter of minutes to figure out we wouldn’t be hanging
around this location for long. We decided to go back to the hotel, find Pam and walk over to Chili’s for dinner. This was another fairly early evening for our group. After dinner
I returned to the room and got on the computer while Linda read and relaxed. I stayed on the computer viewing images until the urge to sleep was overwhelming to the point I gave
in. We had different plans the next day and wished to be rested…
I liked Steve’s front license plate so took a shot of it. I joked with him about Ruger being the ‘Pierce County Equalizer’ back home in Georgia… In Maine front and rear plates are required so we don’t have the option of placing something of this nature on our vehicles. Steve and Pam's Front License Plate...Canon 5d/EF24~105 f/4L at 65mm; 1/100 at f/5, ISO 400 |
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Steve and Sparky’s interest in riding and motorcycles in general lead to a good deal of outreach over the years on their part. The internet can be such a useful tool in connecting
with folks, and through this venue that made some good friends in Texas. We’d already met Dave and Kathy since we arrived. Dave rides a Triumph Tiger similar to Steve’s. They met
through the Triumph Forum on-line and set up a meeting and some riding time when Steve got into Texas. Another couple they met through this interest included Dennis and Barbara Price from Harlingen, Texas, which
is in the south near the U.S./Mexican border, about three-hundred miles below Boerne. Dennis and Barbara came to Boerne on their Honda Goldwing, an 1800 cc touring motorcycle, to join us for the day. We thought
this was pretty neat and they arrived in Boerne the evening before to be in the area early today. Dennis is retired from the ATF and we enjoyed his company and listening to his stories
in our short time together when not in the wind.
Dennis and Barbara with Their Honda Gold Wing - New Braunfels, Texas...Canon 5d/EF24~105 f/4L at 50mm; 1/160 at f/7.1, ISO 400 , handheld |
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Our group consisted of five motorcycles and seven people - Steve and Pam riding their rentals individually, Linda and I riding together on our rented BMW, Dennis and Barbara
riding together on their Gold Wing and Dave alone on his Triumph Tiger. Because of his familiarity with the ground we’d be covering Dave was elected as our ride master and
tour planner for the day. Sparky made a point of telling Dave we weren’t especially interested in going fast or making this into endurance ride… He laughed and said okay – he’d
take pity on us collectively. Probably it was just as well she spoke up… Dave is a member of the Iron Butt Association and rides thousands of miles for the joy of it -
he knows how to get it done. In any event, our
group was large and diverse enough that keeping together in a high-speed run may have proven difficult. Jim gave me the cook’s tour of the BMW R1200 GS and Linda recommended I take
it around the block a few times before she jumped in the passenger’s seat. I agreed and took it for a spin to get checked out. I freely admit at first I absolutely hated it – the
seat height was too high for my frame and without my normal riding boots, I was wearing what I had – hiking boots without heels, I was having difficulty getting my feet in position over
the rear brake. Riding it once underway was a joy, but I never did become especially comfortable stopping while riding two-up. I also learned why both hard bags exhibited scrapes
and scratches and why the front fender had a scratch and ding – I wasn’t the only rider who found the seat height a bit awkward I suspected. I am pleased to report we didn’t add to
any of the dings and scratches during the course of the day…
Dave and his Triumph at Texas Motorcycle Adventures - New Braunfels, Texas ...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 28mm; 1/160 at f/9, ISO 400 handheld |
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We remained at the rest area for a short while, drank some water, put on sun screen or whatever. Those who needed to make adjustments from the short trial run did so. I hadn’t been on the
road in a full faced helmet for a long time and this was a bit unusual. Linda said the same – it wasn't especially difficult to wear but is a bit confining when one isn’t used to
it. The BMW was comfortable but the riding position had me stretched a bit forward. With the helmet and shield I had to pick my head up in an unnatural position to view
the road. Before the end of the day
my neck was fatigued and sore from being in this position. Of course if this were your motorcycle you’d have it properly adjusted for riding position and the helmet would be
fitted to one’s
head and riding style, so most likely none of this would be an issue. We got back on the road and enjoyed the day heading towards Blanco, Texas…
Dennis, Barbara and Linda at the Wayside ...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 67mm; 1/250 at f/8, ISO 400 handheld |
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The ‘town’ consisted of a group of buildings, the centerpiece of which was the post office and general store. I asked Dave if this was a single part a larger town – ‘no, this
is the entire town right here’, he replied. Dave also commented that there are several towns for sale in the area… For the right price you can own your own Texas town lock,
stock and barrel. One didn’t require much time to walk the grounds in entirety but Luckenbach really was a neat place to visit. We went into the post office, where we met and
spoke with the town sheriff. He’s also the post master general, store keeper and most likely the mayor as well. By now after our stops I realized I failed to bring a hat along,
so when I wasn’t wearing the helmet my head was exposed. Being somewhat follically-challenged, the last thing I wanted was my northeastern scalp exposed to the blistering Texas
sun, even for a short time. So I talked to the sheriff and bought one of his many baseball hats on display. It has served me well since…
Portrait of the Sheriff - Luckenbach, Texas...Canon 5d/EF24~105 f/4L at 60mm; 1/15th at f/4, ISO 400 , handheld |
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It was approaching noon and we really hadn’t gotten far in our plan for the day. And it was getting warm… Stopping was fun but trying to generate a bit of breeze was
looking desirable at the moment. We learned soon enough this really didn’t aid as a cooling effort. The heat from the road is enough to parboil a rider given a bit of
time. It was early June; I could only imagine what July and August would be like riding in the Hill Country…
Pam & Steve - Riding Companions...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 105mm; 1/250 at f/7.1, ISO 400 handheld |
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It was a short ride northeast from Luckenbach to
Wild Seed Farms near Fredericksburg, where we stopped for lunch. This was another interesting spot and many people were visiting
the facility. They have nearly two-hundred acres of wildflowers growing around the buildings and many examples on display everywhere – the place was a bit of a mecca for wine
drinkers and flower aficionados … The gift shop sold all kinds of garden related items besides jams, jellies, pickle, salsa, foodstuffs, condiments and every kind of seed of
interest to be found in Texas from what I could observe. We all took our time looking around and then met at the sandwich/snack bar for some lunch.
Visiting Wild Seed Farms - Fredericksburg, Texas...Canon 5d/EF24~105 f/4L at 105mm; 1/640 at f/10, ISO 400 , handheld |
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Fredericksburg was about as far away from Texas Motorcycles Adventures as we planned to be, so we started back towards New Braunfels. After getting back on the road after lunch,
besides the hot, sunny day we were now being buffeted quite hard by the wind that had picked up. Dave indicated the wind always blows in the Hill Country and today was business
as usual. It wasn’t anything we couldn’t manage - all were experienced riders, but it could be distracting when suddenly struck by a strong gust that sends the bike to one side of the lane or the
other. After a time we could see where this could take a toll on a rider’s concentration and strength. We pulled off at a gas station and Dennis and Barbara filled up their Gold Wing. They
had a few places they needed to check out as they were on a pin ride trip, so at this gas station they split off to continue their quest. So our party, now down to four
motorcycles, carried on.
Cactus Wildflower - Fredericksburg, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 105mm; 1/200 at f/6.3, ISO 640 handheld |
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We weren’t too far from the turn to head back to New Braunfels, when Sparky signaled for us to pull over. We turned into a convenience store parking lot and dismounted. She
indicated she needed a rest – between the warmth of the day – and trust when I indicate it was indeed hot on the road, and getting beat up by the wind, she felt close to the
end of her endurance. I don’t believe any of us were particularly comfortable with the buffeting we’d received. If it were like this every day when riding the Hill Country I may consider other
options – it was tiring. We talked it over and decided it may be best to leave her and the VStrom here as a safety precaution. We’d ride back, drop off the bikes and return
in the truck afterwards. Then Steve could ride the VStrom back to the shop and we’d turn over the rentals. Linda elected to stay with Pam, which I was pleased about, to keep her company as well
as from being alone in a place where she didn’t know anybody. Dave, Steve and I determined we’d stay on the route planned and take the River Road back to New Braunfels. I
thought this may be fun. I was riding alone now and could test out the BMW touring bike some - I wanted to get on it a bit to check out performance issues. However, this was not to
be. The River Road was winding and had potential, but it
was low speed and there were people everywhere with vehicle traffic and pedestrians crossing the roadway to enjoy the water on this hot day.
Plate View of BMW Touring Rental - New Braunfels, Texas...Canon 5d/EF24~105 f/4L at 65mm; 1/320 at f/9, ISO 640 , handheld |
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Sparky called ahead so Jim would know to meet us at the shop to receive the returned bikes. When she explained what was going on, Jim indicated he was close to
her location – stay put and he’d come by. The girls could drive his vehicle in and he’d ride the VStrom back to the shop – and this is what happened… Pam called both Steve and
me and left messages on our phones to stay put at the shop as they were coming to join us. So ended our day riding the Hill Country – it had been great!
Dave and Steve at the End of the Ride - Texas Motorcycle Adventures - New Braunfels, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 35mm; 1/400 at f/14, ISO 400 handheld |
Soon enough our group was reassembled and we started the return trip to Boerne. Dave was riding back of course, but did have his on-board water supply along… He could drink from
this pack while riding – I suppose in Texas one has to make adjustments. So he only needed to stop for fuel if going long distance. He also carried two, one liter gas bottles
which he traveled with just in case he should run out of fuel at an inopportune moment. It does pay to plan for contingencies when in the Iron Butt Association…
Kiro & Dave's Standing Next to Dave's On-board Water Supply... |
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The plan was to join up with Dave and Kathy at their home in Boerne after dinner, about eight miles from our hotel. The problem was the truck didn’t easily accommodate six
adults. Dennis laughed about this and jumped in the back of the truck with my lens and tripod. We questioned him about this, but he said he’d be fine and would enjoy the
ride – so off we went. When we arrived at Dave’s I indicated to Dennis I felt privileged having him personally protecting my equipment… I'd purposely carried my long lens
along. When we’d met for dinner at the Welfare General Store, Dave told me I should bring a camera system along as they had a good bit of activity around their home, so I
didn’t feel it was an imposition to show up with it. And in hindsight I’m pleased I did – having a camera along worked out splendidly…
View from the Deck - Boerne, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/13, ISO 400 |
Everyone piled out of the truck, went in to say hello and to check out Dave and Kathy’s lovely home. They have a large deck off the back of the house with a spectacular view
into the valley below. It was around 1900 hours and the sun was starting to sink in the western sky. This didn’t prevent it from being quite hot still – the temperature hadn’t
changed much yet from the warmest part of the day. However, I noticed the light was nearly perfect on the tree line behind the house. Steve and I also noticed a pair of Bewick’s
Wrens actively foraging in the area – we observed they must have a nest somewhere below the deck and were carrying insects and other treats back to their young. Before the dash under the deck
they would perch in a tree bathed in soft early evening light to investigate. It didn’t take long for me to pull the tripod out and get it set up on the deck…
Bewick's Wren & Spider...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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Without equivocation, the highlight of the session at Dave’s was the appearance of a neighborhood
Greater Roadrunner. Dave, Steve and I were on the deck talking and watching
the area when off to the right the roadrunner came strolling into the yard. The bird took his/her time foraging for snakes, lizards or whatever, and checking the area – this
roadrunner was quite comfortable below us we observed. We indicated to Dave it was pretty amazing he was able to tame a roadrunner to the point it was leery but would get
so close to us – he just laughed… I’d seen roadrunners before in Arizona and even Oklahoma once or twice when I’d spent,
'Three Days in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge', but
this was by far the closest I’d ever been to one and I was fortunate to have my photographic system ready to shoot. The lighting could have been better – it was getting late in the
day, but I had no complaints. We all tracked the roadrunner's movements and I followed it with my lens taking advantage of every opportunity presented to take an exposure.
The Greater Roadrunner became the thirteenth new species for my Bird Photography Index this trip.
Greater Roadrunner - Boerne, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/13, ISO 640 |
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As dusk arrived and darkness fell we enjoyed viewing the night sky. I learned Dave has a telescope, a
Celestron eight-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain if I remember correctly. He discussed plans to construct a pier from bedrock or a footing below and through the deck to set it up for
some observing. It clearly appeared to be a pristine spot for this endeavor and we talked about telescope systems some. Soon all of us were indoors enjoying some wonderful
desserts Kathy had put together. It was getting late but Dave asked if we’d be interested in viewing a DVD about the attempts to break the land speed record at the
Bonneville Salt Flats. I don’t think the ladies were up for this – it had been a long day and everyone was tired, but we agreed and he put it on. Although we were
weary, the DVD was quite fascinating and none of us menfolk wanted to leave before it concluded. We found it interesting that Dave had actually met and talked with
one of the salt flat teams on the DVD and he discussed his visit with them. It was nearly 2100 hours before it ended and we didn’t tarry in getting back in the truck
to head for our beds. And yes, Dennis again assumed a position in the truck bed on the return… It had been a long, eventful and truly outstanding day in the Texas Hill Country…
Bewick's Wren & Catch...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/8 with Flash, ISO 800 |
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Honey Creek State Natural Area consists over two-thousand acres located about thirty miles from downtown San Antonio in Cormal County. Entry is via guided tours only
and there are around two miles of trails through the area to walk the grounds. Everyone talked about how German immigrants settled the Hill Country and had a lasting
influence on the names and places of the area, so I decided to investigate a bit about this to learn more. In the case of Honey Creek, in the mid nineteenth century a
family from Bavaria, the Doeppenschimidts, traveling with the party of Prince Carl von Solms-Braunfels, came to settle in central Texas. Over time Doeppenschmidt family
members had acquired many parcels of land around Honey Creek that were later consolidated into what would become Honey Creek Ranch by Adam Doeppenschmidt. The property
changed hands several times over the years, eventually being acquired by deed to the Texas Nature Conservancy in 1985 and was opened publically for limited access shortly
afterwards. We were on our way to check it out…
The Old Homestead at Honey Creek - Spring Branch, Texas...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 28mm; 1/125 at f/7.1, ISO 400 |
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We stopped to purchase ice and water as part of the normal routine, plus today Steve fueled the truck so we were good to go for another round of travel. We got to the park well
before the 0900 tour start, checked in with the office for a pass and headed over to the assembly area. The guides for the tour, the Mebane’s, a husband and wife team, were at
the old homestead, now a small museum making preparations for the guided walk. We walked the grounds looking around, seeking birds or whatever in the area and talked with
them. Steve indicated we were interested in the area generally, but were especially on the lookout for birds, the primary reason we came here today.
We inquired about observation expections in the creek area and if anyone accompanying the tour had local birding knowledge.
Just before 0900 a major influx of people started arriving. Yikes – this
group was large! It also included families with a plethora of children, even folks with strollers. When asked about taking a stroller on the paths one couple indicated they’ve
been on the walk several times previously without any problems. When dealing with the public at large liability issues dictate that everything must be explained in detail and everyone
made aware about how taxing or stressful the hike may be. I was standing in the background with my tripod system set up. This was commented on as well, – ‘do you really think it’s
a good idea to carry that along'? As I looked around at the composition of the group, I stated anywhere they could go I could carry my camera system – I do this all the time and wouldn’t
go without it because using it in the field was why I was here. If a stroller and group of children could traverse the trails there was no doubt I could do so as well with my tripod.
This wasn’t the first time I’d heard comments like this and felt certain it wouldn’t be the last…
Paul Mebane Speaking with the Tour Group - Honey Creek State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/8 with Flash, ISO 800 |
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After the Mebanes explained what to expect and discussed the history of the area, the tour got underway. We followed along over several stops that were interesting as they
talked about the types of grasses we were observing, and the regions flora and fauna. This was worthwhile, but we could see it was be a waste of valuable field time as far as
seeking birds or other critters was concerned. With a group this large stealth and fast-tracking down the trail was simply out of the question. I believe our guides recognized
this – they probably
didn't expect so momentous a turnout either and understood we were serious about birding and photography, the reason we made the trip. But it was Saturday and we were enjoying
the morning come what
may. We’d just have to see what would happen and enjoy the picturesque scenery.
The Tour Group Underway - Honey Creek State Natural Area - Spring Branch, Texas...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 67mm; 1/200 at f/7.1, ISO 400 |
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As it turned out another local birder and a member of the Friends of Guadalupe River/Honey Creek Organization, Bruce Jones, was also enjoying the tour this morning. The guides
asked Bruce if he wished to accompany us to the creek so we could split off from the larger assembly and form a smaller group to conduct some nature observation. Bruce was okay
with this and we were approached and asked if we wished to do so, which we agreed to readily. They exchanged phone numbers in the event something came up, planned a time for the
return and off we went… Thinking about all the adventures I’d experienced in parks and refuges with my cameras, this all appeared a bit ironic from my viewpoint, but
none of these expereinces was known to these people of course and it was kind of them to provide the opportunity to view this area, normally closed to the public.
Bruce Jones in Honey Creek State Natural Area...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 105mm; 1/200 at f/6.3, ISO 400 |
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There wasn’t much to observe, or hear for that matter, as far as avian life was concerned. The creek area was absolutely striking – quiet and serene, almost surrealistic. You’d think it
would be filled with all kinds of birds going about their business and daily routines. They probably were around in abundance, but not many that we could observe which was a bit of a
disappointment. We stalked a few and I took some exposures – mostly too far away to even make identification possible. But we did add a new bird to the Index this day, number
fourteen, a Common Ground Dove Linda viewed ahead of us on the trail. I’ve seen these doves before and
Steve indicated there are many in his area of Georgia, but this was the
first ground dove I’d approached close enough to photograph. I stayed with the bird for a time to and took some exposures.
Common Ground Dove - Honey Creek State Natural Area - Spring Branch, Texas...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/14 with Flash, ISO 640 |
Bruce checked his watch, indicating they we had to start back soon to rendezvous with the balance of the group. It didn’t seem like we’d been by the creek long, but the
entire tour only lasted about two hours total. We certainly would have stayed longer if allowed. It was a warm day as expected, but we were generally out of direct
sunshine in a beautiful environment. We simply hated to leave. We were surprised we didn’t run into the tour group – we didn’t even hear them through the woods. We couldn’t
figure out how they could have possibly gotten ahead of us with so few trails to follow. Bruce got everyone motivated and we hiked up the hill on the return trip. Returning to
the parking area we learned we were the first group back. Bruce called to learn where everyone was. They were nearby and in a few minutes everyone returned up the trail and started dispersing
to their cars and off to other Saturday adventures… We said our goodbyes and offered our thanks; we even invited Bruce to lunch, but he had other plans and couldn’t join us. In
just a few minutes we were loaded up and running the air conditioning in the truck, heading out to new sights…
Sparky, Linda & Steve - End of the Guided Tour - Honey Creek State Natural Area...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 105mm; 1/200 at f/6.3, ISO 400 |
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Steve and Sparky informed us about a vineyard that had some excellent wines – they’d been waiting to return to buy a few bottles to carry back to Georgia. Linda loves wine and
always has some
available around the house – she too was interested. I was okay with it and pleased to be in the cool of the truck for a time. Steve took the road to Sisterdale, Texas - population
25 according to what I read… It must be nice to live in a town where you can personally know every member of the community. We visited the
Sister Creek Vineyards to conduct some taste
testing and purchase some Hill Country wines.
At Sister Creek Vineyards - Sisterdale, Texas...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 28mm; 1/100 at f/7.1, ISO 100 handheld |
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I waited and looked around the vineyard while our group sampled the goods and talked with the staff. I observed they had wine tasting down to an art form, including collecting
the fees depending upon how many samples you wished to partake of. It was an eclectic experience all in all though and fun to do. Linda purchased a few bottles of wine as
did Steve, including his favorite, their Cabernet Sauvignon - 4 Blend, which I believe is the top tier in the vineyard line up. These wines weren’t inexpensive but when
compared to restaurant pricing they were quite reasonable. Later on at the hotel we got together, broke bread and drank our wine…
Linda Sampling Wines - Sister Creek Vineyards...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 47mm; 1/15 at f/4, ISO 1000 |
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We carefully packed our bottles and got back on the road. Steve said we should head north to Fredericksburg and reconnoiter the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, one of the parks
on our ‘to do’ list for seeking birds in a different environmental setting - we weren’t all that far way. They’d visited this facility previously and Sparky talked about climbing to
the summit. She indicated one could make it to the top in fifteen minutes going straight up, or take the meandering path, which was just less than an hour’s hike. We had the state
pass so just taking a quick look around wouldn’t involve a daily fee ($6 per person we learned). It was middle of the afternoon hot and when we stepped out of the truck it was like walking
into a blast furnace. Guess I was getting a bit spoiled by the air conditioning. Steve and I went into the office and looked around. I checked out the photographs and post cards
to see what they had on display while he checked us in. We didn’t stay long, just drove around the interior roads reconnoitering and checking things over before getting on the road
heading back to Boerne.
As we were driving along a secondary road, we spotted a Red-shouldered Hawk quite close to the shoulder perched on a fence. Steve asked if I wanted to stop to photograph this raptor, which I did. Most hawks have wide-ranging comfort zones – if I exited the vehicle I knew the bird would bolt, so Steve maneuvered allowing a shot out the back window. I keep my 400mm prime lens in the vehicle just in case we had some opportunities like this and had it mounted on my Canon 5d camera. We’d take a few shots then move closer, repeating the process until the hawk wouldn’t tolerate our presence anymore. Not too bad a sequence came out of this. We’d observed surprisingly few hawks in our Hill Country travels. Red-shouldered Hawk Along the Roadway...Canon 5d/EF 400mm f/5.6L; 1/500 at f/8, ISO 400 handheld |
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There’s a somewhat famous scenic loop road not far from Fredericksburg, Texas - the Willow City Loop, that people make a point of traveling when in the area. The loop travels
thirteen miles along a winding country road through some unique geology. Picturesque at any time of year, it is especially noted for scenes of exceptional beauty during
wildflower season. We were late for wildflowers and with the present drought, the loop though still scenic, was drab and brown compared to glory times. We’d talked about traveling
this loop on the motorcycles, but Dave indicated it was closed to the public. The entire loop is privately owned by the homeowners abutting it. Because of the disruption and issues
that had arisen, no stopping, parking or exiting of vehicles was permitted. People would ramble by, park off road on private property and walk out to obtain a better view, or to
photograph wildflowers or wildlife. The locals grew weary of this annoyance and damage to their property caused by some uncaring miscreants… In any event, we were pleased to be
able to enjoy the drive after thinking the loop was closed. As we were at the end of the loop we passed some motorcycles – Steve pointed out a gray Triumph Tiger and mentioned he’d
have to post this sighting to the Triumph forum.
Willow City Loop... |
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It was about 1700 hours when we got back to our Boerne Hampton Inn. Everyone was tired and ready to kick back for a time. Steve and I told the ladies we’d take care of dinner
this evening. We’d all been eating plenty and with the hot days, decided this night we’d do some shopping and purchase some lighter fare, dining together in one of the rooms
while we enjoyed some wine. They were good with this and both had plans to visit the pool while we did our rounds. This did work out quite well for all… Steve and I
had a few things we wished to do so the time away was well spent. Although very near the 1800 hours closing time, we stopped by the local Triumph/BMW dealership, not far from
the hotel, and checked out the motorcycles. We'd been discussing bikes constantly during our time in Texas. He is quite knowledgeable on this subject and most aware of what's
available in the marketplace. He wanted me to see the new model BMW Inline Six Cylinder 1600cc touring motorcycle. We also checked out the Triumph machines
and he pointed out many features on these models. I thought the BMW was splendid and the features were remarkable, but after riding the 1200 RT, I really didn’t think it was my
style - the seat height alone was a deal-breaker. As Linda, no motorcycle aficionado or enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination, commented after our day on the
BMW – ‘I’m a Harley girl I think’… Afterwards we had two tasks we wished
to accomplish – reconnoiter a local nature park and visit the local grocery store – we did both. We checked out
Cibolo Nature Area in Boerne as a spot close by the hotel to
do some birding and nature photography. We noted the hours of operation and did a quick tour of the store/office. The facility opened with daylight – now that was a refreshing
concept – no matter what time we arrived we could get on the grounds as long as we had light to see… I looked at a group of bird photographs for sale in the store – I knew from what I’d evaluated so far that
I was doing well in comparison and had some stellar images in the group. H-E-B is the local grocery store, a large chain in Texas and Mexico we learned – we really liked everything
about it pretty much and they had wonderful produce. We
purchased an assortment of cheeses, a fruit platter, than added a vegetable platter to our cart. But the highlight of this stop was a shrimp cocktail platter –
we were living in high cotton…
Prickly Pear Cactus Along the Roadway...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/6.3 with Flash, ISO 640 |
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We’d been on the road long enough by now that we started thinking about doing some laundry and re-grouping a bit. Sparky was still having issues with her hip and at times, her
knees, and indicated she was ready to rest up a bit - we'd been doing a good deal of hiking. This morning she elected to stay at the hotel and get some laundry done once
most of the guests had checked out and the
hotel was quiet. We absolutely agreed with this – we wanted her well and feeling great. Linda, Steve and I decided we’d leave the hotel at 0700 hours to get out somewhere,
but remain around
the general vicinity of Boerne. By now we’d discovered where the Egyptian Goose flight had been heading and we made this spot, a city park, our first stop this morning.
The park was one of those places where people would come and hand feed the ducks and geese. Although not exactly domesticated, they had a minimal fear of human beings and some would approach if they thought a handout was in the offing. The water here appeared to be a bit of a migrant trap for birds passing through so we thought it worthwhile to keep an eye on the place. The Egyptian Goose group was present, so I set up to photograph them. Although these birds wouldn’t come up to you for a handout, at least they didn’t bolt when we got out of the vehicle. This goose became the fifteenth new species added to my Index from this trip - they really are neat looking critters... Egyptian Goose...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/200 at f/5.6, ISO 640 |
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Across the water on the opposite bank we were surprised to see a
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron watching the water while fishing. As Steve observed this heron, he saw the bird
make a strike and pull out a large crayfish. He called me over and pointed this out. It was a long distance across but I took a few shots all the same. If you look closely at
the image at left you can see how large this capture was in relation to the heron’s head. Crabs and shellfish are always on the menu for these birds.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron with Crayfish Capture...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/100 at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 640 |
Linda had made some friends at this stop. Apparently she’d been adopted for a time by a pair of young ducks and everywhere she went they followed. When we decided to move on they
wouldn’t leave her side and she ended up shooing them away for their own safety… We’d planned our next stop - a return to Cibolo Nature Area, this time intending to remain longer to
learn what we could find.
Linda's Bird Buddies...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 105mm; 1/200 at f/5.6, ISO 400 handheld |
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Once geared up we checked around the buildings and looked at the trail maps to get the lay of the land. Steve spotted one of these species I wished to follow up – a Lesser
Goldfinch. I was hoping to find some male birds to photograph to show friends in Maine the difference between these and their American Goldfinch cousins. I did find a few to
photograph although I still hoped for more significant opportunities. Behind the main building there was a group of feeders we investigated. Other than Northern Cardinals, the
prevalent species from what we’d seen so far, there wasn’t much else around. We followed the path down to Cibolo Creek. There were few birds around the creek, but we were
impressed with the beauty of the place and recognized it had many possibilities. Another plus was there were few people around, just a party or two walking along the creek. When
seeking birds fewer people is always desirable. While we all looked for birds I exposed some landscapes around the creek.
Lesser Goldfinch...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/100 at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 640 |
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As we moved up the trail following the creek we were somewhat disheartened by the lack of bird activity – we’d hoped for a more target rich environment. Then something fortuitous
occurred… One of the parties walking the path, a fellow with his wife and mother, were up ahead and they too were birding. The mother was sitting on a rock – she was so still
and silent I walked up on her carrying my tripod without even realizing she was there at first. We talked for a few minutes and inquired about where they’d been and if they’d
found any species of interest in their travels. I learned they were from Minnesota and birding was one of their primary reasons for visiting the Hill Country. Then she really
blew me away – she told me about observing Golden-cheeked Warblers the day before and how attractive these birds are… They were in a park not far from here along with a plethora of other species. Yikes – I had to ask - ‘where did you come across these warblers?’ Not driving this trip she wasn’t certain what to tell us, but called her son over to provide more information. This was all terrific news of course and her son reviewed the site location with us on his handheld - we learned it was about 12 miles away heading towards San Antonio. They couldn’t recall the exact name of the park – we had it down as Frederick by the time the discussion ended, but Steve felt he had information to locate the place. Just as importantly, we were provided detailed information of where to go in the park once we arrived there. We asked how he knew about this spot, after all he was ‘from away’ also. The reply was an Audubon web search in the Hill Country – the place had been noted on a top ten list of birding hotspots in the area. It was still early, not quite 0900 hours… I told Steve that I voted to go there immediately to investigate. Both he and Linda agreed and we followed the trail back to the
parking lot with little wasted time.
Receiving Directions from the Minnesota Folks - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 50mm; 1/100 at f/5.6, ISO 640 handheld |
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Steve felt comfortable about where to go to find the site but detailed directions would be great. While we headed south towards San Antonio, I checked the points of interest on
his GPS. It didn’t take long to find the park in the menu,
(Emilie & Albert) Friedrich Wilderness Park, located in Bexar County in San Antonio. Now he/we could relax a bit and
concentrate on driving, knowing the electronics would guide us to the area, which is exactly how things went. Friedrich Wilderness Park was about twelve miles from our hotel
in Boerne but we hadn’t been aware of it. When we arrived I was surprised when looking around – this didn’t appear to be a likely place to find the birds we were
seeking… However, looks can be deceiving. The trail into the park was a concrete sidewalk that later changed over to bituminous – what? A paved trail in this ‘wilderness’? This
place was designed for recreation from what we could tell and people were certainly taking advantage of it – joggers, distance runners, power-walkers, families with strollers
on the paths – this was an active and well populated facility with many people around on this Sunday morning. We didn’t dally much, we knew where to go so I asked one of the
lady runners where the windmill was located – this had the only water source in the park so it made a perfect birding shoot zone.
At Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 105mm; 1/800 at f/11, ISO 640 handheld |
Up the ‘trail’ we went making a turn to follow the ‘water trail’. After a few minutes we spotted the windmill and we looked around checking the area. I was surprised to see another
well-equipped photographer setting up. He was shooting with a 600mm f/4L lens with a flash extender and had a 400mm f/5.6L prime on a second Canon body. I went over to speak with him
to make certain he didn’t have any issue about where I planned to set up. He was over by the benches and had carried a seat along. We noticed he used a little red wagon to carry his gear in
and Steve indicated I should do something like this. There are probably a few places I frequent where this would work – but not many. I’ve found using my truck for a ‘camera bag’ and
going afield only with what you can carry and employ is the best method. This is always about the same - the Mark III 1Ds on the 600mm lens, tripod mounted with a flash extender and the 400mm prime on a
second body on a strap hanging on my right side. It didn’t take us long to figure out we’d found a remarkable spot for a shoot zone…
Steve, Linda and J.D on the Lookout - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 50mm; 1/160 at f/5, ISO 640 handheld |
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I set up in an opening in a fence keeping the camera just below eye-level as I stood. I considered dropping the tripod lower but found the best elevation to cover the back
trees as well as the water in my front. This was an interesting spot – in essence three small pools of ground water with good cover for birds on three sides. I was occupying
the fourth side and could see all the way back to the trees the birds used for entry cover. This was a bit further than I’d prefer to shoot for image scale but it did
allow me to get close on the pools. Everyone was sitting
quietly waiting to see what would come in and it got quite active – I couldn’t have been more pleased with the quantity and quality of the subjects. There was one downside
however, the shading from surrounding trees made a dark and gloomy scene around the water – the end result was a higher ISO rating and thusly, more image noise to contend with. But
it was worth it…
While I waited and watched I observed a Black Vulture snooping about. When the bird didn’t think I was watching the vulture would jump up on the cistern by the windmill and snatch a drink. If somebody came up the path the bird would go into the trees for a few minutes and return after they’d gone by. The vulture was too close to photograph with the tripod system and the light wasn’t great for handheld endeavors, but I couldn’t resist taking a few shots on this subject… Black Vulture - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 105mm; 1/250 at f/6.3, ISO 640 handheld |
As I walked back towards the tripod after the vulture shoot, I viewed Steve and Linda trying to get my attention. A
Golden-cheeked Warbler was in the trees above them
reconnoitering the water pools to learn if it were safe to make an approach… This bird was the primary reason we were here and just spotting one was exciting. I got ready because
come what may I was going to track this bird to obtain the best exposure possible. I needn’t have been concerned the way things turned out – there were many opportunities before
this session was completed… This bird became the sixteenth addition this trip to my Bird Photography Index.
Golden-cheeked Warbler - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/200 at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 800 |
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There was one tree in particular that was absolutely perfect from my position – it had bare branches just above the water and was close. Any bird that perched here was in
about as ideal a position as I could imagine. If you look at the photograph several images above entitled, ‘My View of the Shoot Zone’, you can see this tree just behind and left of the
first pool in view. Our neighborhood Golden-cheeked Warbler managed to visit the branches of this tree… I said a silent prayer – thank you Lord – I must be living right. For
me this was kind of like manna from heaven…
Golden-cheeked Warbler - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/200 at f/5.6, ISO 800 with Flash |
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And it wasn’t just warblers visiting the water hole. A decent variety of birds came in to cool off on yet another scorching day. I can see why – this site offered shade and
reasonable safety as well as life-giving water. I was content in my little gold mine of avian photographic possibilities, but the day was progressing rapidly… I obtained some
of my best shots ever on the Summer Tanagers that frequented the area and was pleased with the results on this species. I’ll post some more shots from the waterhole shoot
zone before moving on with this account.
Summer Tanager - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/7.1 with Flash, ISO 800 |
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Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I added species number seventeen shortly after the Golden-cheeked Warbler. This bird, a
Hutton’s Vireo, closely resembles a
Ruby-crowned Kinglet and that's what Steve and I thought it was at first. Several clues came about that made us rethink
this assessment. Firstly – when on the computer there was no trace of
even a hint of the ruby crown. I’ve observed/photographed quite a few kinglets and found this to be unusual. Secondly, some birders that came by asked if these were Hutton’s
Vireos, inquiring if they had hooked bills. On the computer at full resolution this tiny hook can easily be seen. . I felt certain this was what it was and later when we returned
we made a point of verifying and following up on the observation. We’d added yet another bird and I had some excellent photographs of them…
Hutton's Vireo - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/125 at f/5.6, ISO 800 with Flash |
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There were other birds as well of course, what I pointed out were the highlights in my estimation. Everywhere we’d been in Texas Northern Cardinals could be found, generally in
abundance. This stop was no different – there were plenty around. Steve and Sparky have named their piece of Georgia, ‘Red Bird Acres’ and I knew that Sparky keeps an archive of
cardinal shots on her computer. Because of this when I see these birds no matter where or what state I find myself, I’m far more apt to photograph them. Today was no exception – when
I observed a prime candidate I’ll track the bird through the lens and take a few exposures. I usually email these to her and express the sentiment, ‘I shot these just for you’.
She probably thinks I’m just plain goofy but in reality it’s pretty much the truth. Of course she’d rather have them photographed in her yard at Red Bird Acres, a point in which I’m
in agreement…
Northern Cardinal - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/125 at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 800 |
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By now with the change of location, we’d been gone much longer than planned. With Sparky back at the hotel wondering what we’d been doing all this time, it was time to get
ourselves back. I was really pleased and exposed a fairly significant image group. I knew what I’d be doing when I got to my computer provided it didn’t interfere with anyone’s
schedule. Although it seemed we been gone much longer, it was shortly after noon when we returned to the Hampton Inn. Sparky, planning for our return, had set up for lunch in
their room - we made sandwiches and enjoyed the fixings we’d picked up earlier. It was lighter fare and well received by all.
Linda planned to do some laundry to get our clothing current. I’d really not packed wisely overall, focusing on long pants for the field. I had four pair of pants that never got worn once – I was thinking about rough ground and cactus, not blazing heat that would have had me running about in my skivvies had I been able to. Good footwear, tee shirts and shorts became the uniform of the day. So Linda did laundry and hung around the pool reading and catching a few rays. She and Sparky both enjoyed the pool - I can't say if Steve did or not, but I didn't take advantage of it while at the hotel - that would have meant giving up far too valuable computer/evaluation time. By now I was far behind on image groups and used every minute I could get away with rendering the various groups. Steve and Sparky came to our room to take a look at some of the shoot files and afterwards I worked on the computer all afternoon trying to get caught up. If the choice were this or relaxing by the pool there was little doubt which I’d choose… Rufous-crowned Sparrow Drying Out - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/5.6, ISO 800 with Flash |
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We were up at 0600 hours and on the road around 0700, headed back to Friedrich Wilderness Park, hopefully to find the target rich environment we’d experienced yesterday. The weekend was
behind us now and we expected the place to be quiet. It did have significantly less people than a Sunday but there were people enjoying the facility around. We climbed the trail
to the windmill and I set up in the same spot. But before we got there we had several neat observations along the way. The first was being greeted by an Inca Dove in a tree near
the trail entrance. I’d only observed these in the Hill Country so stopped to take a few shots…
Windmill Detail - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 5d/EF 4005mm f/5.6L; 1/1000 at f/10, ISO 800 handheld |
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Next, not far from where we planned to make the turn onto the water trail, we observed four or five Golden-cheeked Warblers in a tree right in front of us. They flew in and were
frolicking about in a group and our being there didn’t appear to faze them much. We gathered these were young birds or perhaps females as their plumage wasn’t grown out as
adult birds. I was close – too close, and started back tracking to get outside the minimum focus distance of my tripod mounted lens. Another reason to not travel with the gear
in a wagon I thought to myself – it’s bad enough when you see something and have to pull the tripod out of a vehicle, but if it’s not set up there’s little possibility you’d have
time to get ready promptly enough to take an exposure. In any event, I backed up and started searching for the birds through the lens as we watched the show…
Golden-cheeked Warbler Hanging Around - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/125 at f/5.6, ISO 640 with Flash |
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We didn’t observe any new species at the waterhole this morning. However I liked this spot - we remained in one place which allowed the subjects to come into the shoot
zone in lieu of hiking new ground all the time. Plus it was an active location – there was little time spent with no activity going on and it kept us all engaged. The highlight
of the morning, at least for me, was observing a Hutton’s Vireo take a bath and then perch on my favorite branch al puffed out to dry. As nothing new was photographed, I’ll place
a template of some of the better shots from the morning below before moving on…
Hutton's Vireo Drying Out - Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/125 at f/5.6, ISO 640 with Flash |
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The coolness of the morning was behind us. We were hungry after the quick launch out from the hotel so decided it was time to quest for food and try a new venue with the
cameras afterwards. We talked as we hiked the trail back to the parking lot and developed a plan to visit an excellent barbeque place we’d tried and enjoyed well –
Fritze’s BBQ & Catering on North Main Street in Boerne, Texas. Steve had ordered ribs our first time out and I was looking forward to
ordering the same this time around – they looked delicious – a fact Steve readily concurred upon. As we were driving back to Boerne we were passing the local Harley-Davidson
dealership, Javelina H-D in Boerne. On the spur of the moment I asked Steve it we could stop to have a look at the new scooters. He’d had me thinking about this stuff far too
much – I wanted to check out the touring motorcycles above the Road King model level I owned currently, which I'd found to be a phenominal motorcycle. We didn’t stay long but saw everything we wished
and I talked to a salesperson about the
various 2011 models and how they were set up. I was particularly impressed with the Electra Glide Classic Ultra and the Road Glide Ultra models – this investigation would have
consequences later although I didn’t know it at the time…
Steve and Sparky at Friedrich Wilderness Park from Their Camera... |
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Lunch at Fritze’s BBQ was everything we’d hoped – I was stuffed with good Texas vittles. Normally when we’d go into a building I’d lock the tripod and 600mm lens in the cab so
it wouldn’t be in the open truck bed, subject to theft. In this case we didn’t do this – the seating was right next to a window so I’d figure I’d keep an eye on it from
there. This system had to be handled far too often for my comfort level on this trip. We laughed when observing some folks who parked next to the truck - as they were exiting their vehicle one of
them got a look at the lens and called everyone over to check it out. When they came inside I asked what they thought of it – mostly they expressed satisfaction in knowing they
didn’t have to carry it around. We chuckled about this – I told them I got that a lot… I also indicated that for the type of photography I do nothing can take the place of a
long lens – it was worth the effort and I didn’t leave home without it.
Sparky wanted to stay at the hotel once we returned. She didn’t say specifically but I thought probably that wonderful Hampton Inn pool had been calling to her… Steve, Linda and I talked things over and decided to go back to Cibolo Wilderness Area – we felt this location had potential for finding something new... Steve's Image of Sparky at the Cistern - Friedrich Wilderness Park... |
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After several visits to Cibolo Nature Area we were orientated as to the lay of the land. We hadn’t investigated all the various spots in the facility but understood what was
around. We started out seeking birds around the nature center building. We observed some
Purple Martin gourds and noticed there were some martins flying overhead, around the site, landing and entering them.
I walked over and dropped the tripod to take a few exposures. I didn’t stay long though as the sun was backlighting the scene to the point of becoming an issue. Because
I couldn’t get on the other side of the gourds due to a fence I soon moved on…
Texas Spotted Whiptail - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/9 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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Looking around to see where Steve and Linda got off to, I noticed Steve motioning me over. He’d found some male Lesser Goldfinches and pointed out where the sighting occurred. I
dropped the tripod and leveled up waiting to see if one or more came back in to the area, which they did. Although probably as common to this area as American Goldfinch are in our
Maine backyard, I was pleased to obtain some more shots on these beautiful finches – it would be difficult to determine when I may have another opportunity...
Lesser Goldfinch - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/7.1, ISO 400 |
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Linda was behind the building reconnoitering to learn what may be around. Steve and I had come to appreciate Linda’s skills in the field, no new issue to me – to a large
degree we considered
her our ‘secret weapon’. Although not an avid birder, her hearing was vastly superior to ours – at least to mine in any event, and her powers of observation weren't lacking
in any stretch of the imagination either. She may not recognize a bird call she could hear at distance, but she would know if it were unfamiliar to her to investigate
further. Several new species were located and photographed in this fashion. Steve and I had looked at one another and chuckled on more than one occasion in past days when
Linda asked if ‘we’d heard that’ or ‘did you see that flash of color in the tree line’. I was in the fortunate position of having excellent companionship and field help on
this trip. Having people around that are interested and able in this endeavor can really make a difference I’ve found. Ninety percent of the time I’m in the field alone with
my cameras – you never really know what you missed or could have observed – only what you found and photographed...
Wren Exchange - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/6.3 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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After checking the area around the feeders, where we found some activity but nothing out of the ordinary, we walked down to the creek. Surprisingly we found quite a
few people here – families fishing, hiking and enjoying the day. We talked to some of the people for a time and walked the area, but didn’t stay long because the kids
around were active and running about – they were having a great time but this wasn’t the best conditions for seeking avian activity. We decided to head back towards the building – we’d
check the feeder area again, further investigate the surroundings by the buildings and make our way back to the parking lot if we didn’t see much moving around. Walking the trail
back to the nature center Steve spotted a
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – the second sighting we’d had of the species – the first was a good look at one in a tree
near our hotel. Even more exciting was a Golden-fronted Woodpecker fly-over - now this spurred our interest…
Cardinal Exchange - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/8, ISO 400 |
I set up on the back porch of the building, which wasn’t open to the public today, waiting patiently to learn if anything new would come into the area. After about half an hour
we were rewarded with new species number eighteen, a
Golden-fronted Woodpecker, who came into the area, did a careful examination of the surroundings, and
eventually landed on a feeder. We knew some were around, but actually getting one in front of the lens is a different matter entirely. I had few opportunities to photograph this
bird in the surrounding trees – it was moving in and out far too quickly and flying out of sight behind the tree line between feeder visits. I was pleased to see this handsome species
and tracked it every opportunity I was provided…
Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/6.3 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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We remained set up near the building and utilized some chairs on the porch while we waited and observed the activity. With the aid of Linda and Steve locating subjects to
photograph there wasn’t much lack of opportunities. It was still quite hot and it was wonderful remaining in the shade of the building. It was approaching 1600 hours by now and we
had to think about getting back to the hotel and checking in with Sparky…
Painted Bunting - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/6.3, ISO 400 |
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We left Cibolo Nature Area but had a few things to do before returning to the Hampton Inn. We needed liquids both for us and the truck, so we stopped at a gas station/convenience
store and took care of this, purchasing another flat of bottled water for the coming days. Next was another visit to our local H-E-B store. Steve and I went in and picked up a few
things for dinner. We planned to do another lighter meal in our rooms again after such a wonderful and expansive lunch. We picked up some fried chicken, a fruit platter and some
other goodies and were soon on our way. This evening we hosted Steve and Pam in our room. I downloaded the media cards while we dined and talked about events from our latest
excursions. Afterwards once dinner was over and everyone went about their business I worked on the computer until I felt the need to get some sleep. It had been another
eventful day in the Hill Country and we still had opportunites remaining…
Carolina Wren - Cibolo Nature Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/10 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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As we were driving along Steve spotted a turtle crossing the road. The turtle had made it to near the centerline but we didn’t think there was much chance of the creature surviving
the balance of the journey. We pulled over to lend a hand. Although there wasn’t much traffic there was enough that we had to be careful. The ladies stayed in the vehicle while Steve
snatched the turtle off the pavement and I took a few exposures. We turned the turtle lose, headed downhill toward a ranch where we could see some water and got back on our way.
Steve and Turtle Along the Roadway...Canon 5d/EF 400mm f/5.6L; 1/400 at f/7.1, ISO 400 handheld |
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We arrived at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area early and found that no staff had yet arrived to allow us to check in. However the way was open and as we were legal in every respect, we went in planning to check
back later. And we weren’t alone; there were quite a few vehicles in the parking areas as we drove in. We found a likely spot with picnic tables around and parked the truck. Steve and
Sparky had visited this facility on previous Texas trips and knew what to expect – a lot of hiking and if you plan to go to the summit of Enchanted Rock, a hard climb. We looked up
thinking this over… But we were here seeking birds and it appeared unlikely the summit would be the place to do this. We elected to remain in the foothills of the summit and follow
the paths to learn what we could observe. Sparky was still hurting and indicated it would be best for her to remain where she was. There was activity to observe and she could get off
her feet as required. She recognized that hiking all morning wasn’t going to aid her condition whatsoever. We were sorry to hear this but certainly understood. Steve, Linda and I headed
down the trail……
Terrain View - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 5d/EF 70~200 f/2.8L f/5.6L at 70mm; 1/400 at f/7.1, ISO 400 handheld |
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I’d looked at the image groups and remembered what was exposed enough to know that I had few Texas landscapes archived. I also recognized that we only had a few days left – it was
time to start thinking about
collecting some data. One issue regarding this was since we arrived in the Hill Country it was so warm after the few hours respite of morning that it simply wasn’t conducive to setting
up for the task of landscape shots. By the time our morning sessions ended we were moving on to something else, generally avoiding the heat of the day when we could. It was time to think about
new strategies although I wasn’t about to give up on the bird photography effort as a priority. So after today I dismounted the 400mm f/5.6L prime lens and started to carry
my 70~200 F/2.8L lens so I could get some shorter focal length shots in during our travels.
We’d just gotten to the path that paralleled the rise to Enchanted Rock when Steve received a phone call. It was Pam calling. Steve came over, and always the gentleman, indicated he was going to walk back to speak with her. Linda and I continued on our way to see what we could find... Terrain View - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 5d/EF 70~200 f/2.8L f/5.6L at 75mm; 1/640 at f/9, ISO 400 handheld |
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We walked to an area and observed a dead or dying tree fairly isolated with bare branches… I was thinking this would make a perfect tree for bird photography when a beautiful specimen
flew in, perched and started to sing. This was my first look ever at a
Black-throated Sparrow, found in southwestern Texas year round. This is a truly handsome sparrow
and I knew
instantly we had a new species, the nineteenth this trip for my Bird Photography Index. Soon there were three or four of these birds in view and we thought they must be common in the
area. However, later as we moved on we didn’t see these again – we must have hit it just right for this species… I indicated to Linda I wasn’t going anywhere until I felt satisfied
this bird was well covered photographically. I set up in a spot that I believed would best cover the surrounding area and waited while she looked for anything else new that may be
around...
Black-throated Sparrow - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/10, ISO 640 |
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Another species Steve had alerted us about that should be in the area was the
Canyon Towhee. Linda had done a bit of research on some of the species we could possibly encounter in our remaining time while
I worked on the image groups in the evenings. I was impressed that she would take time to investigate new species – she may just become a hard core birder yet. Linda also attempted to
become familiarized with their vocalizations. She was gone for a time while I stayed looking for sparrows. When I looked
around she was out of sight. She returned a few minutes later indicating she thought she could hear a Canyon Towhee. ‘No way’, I thought, but we moved to the area and sure enough
after a few minutes we located a single individual. This sighting was fleeting and lasted only a few minutes, but it was intense while it lasted. I tracked the bird through the lens and took exposures
as it moved around, the dark central spot on the breast - a key field mark, readily apparent in my field of view. It got close but never inside the focus distance at 840 millimeters,
so I took an exposure at every opportunity. I was really pleased about seeing one of these towhees for the first time, this made
three of the six towhee species to be found in North America for me and added species number twenty in Texas for my Bird Photography Index…
Canyon Towhee - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/1000 at f/10, ISO 640 |
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It was hot, dry and dusty as we scudded around on the trail among the cactus, stepping over rocks. I had to be careful because carrying the tripod does keep you off balance enough
to present a danger. This would be an ideal setting for some type of mishap and I tried to make certain one didn’t occur. We drank the balance of the water we had and discussed
what to do next, deciding to keep following the trail. We were walking parallel to the parking area, several hundred yards to our left in this direction. The paths were set up with
multiple entrances in from the parking area so we could always walk out and back to the truck on the pavement if we wished. It was warm, but we were having an enjoyable and successful
outing so far and wanted to keep it up. We hiked into an area where it opened up a bit and really had that boney canyon look we easterners associate with the western United
States. I dropped the tripod near some shade and looked around.
Rufous-crowned Sparrow Sparrow - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/10, ISO 640 |
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We observed several smallish birds flitting about in nearby trees – chasing each other and presenting behavior similar to mock, or perhaps real combat. This was worth investigation
I thought, but before I could move, Linda - with binoculars raised not far away, called over and said she thought she was observing a wren on a distant rock. If she was viewing a
wren in this place there was a better than good chance it was a long-billed
Canyon Wren. She was really familiar with Bewick’s and Carolina Wrens from recent days and she understood
this was visibly different. I was fairly emphatic in my response pursuant to this news – no need to state it word for word here, but I was excited about the sighting and carried the
tripod over to get the lens on the subject. Sure enough, there was a Canyon Wren at distance with that distinctive beak, sitting at the top of a rock watching us… I could hardly
believe the day we were having…
Canyon Wren - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/10, ISO 400 |
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We stayed with the wren as long as it remained in the area, but soon it moved off and out of sight. We hadn’t relocated the smaller birds we’d observed around us, so kept moving along on
the trail. The sun was climbing and the heat of the day was coming on. We saw few people along our way, just two pairs of hikers heading upwards to get to the high ground this park
offers. One pair of guys passed us and of course they asked about the lens. We explained we were seeking birds and no, I wasn’t planning to climb to the summit with the tripod – which
probably would have shortened my life by a few years from what I could see. We started seeing groups of climbers on the ledge heading up to Enchanted Rock.
Hiking the Rocks - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/320 at f/10, ISO 400 |
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We did see a few ‘familiar faces’ in our travels. We’d heard and observed
Orchard Orioles, mostly when we first left the parking area. We noticed some bird activity in several
trees to either side of the trail and decided to investigate. While Linda checked out one side I went to the other. When I got a look at the bird I was stalking through the lens I
knew what it was immediately, a
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. I moved to the best obtainable location and tracked this bird through the lens for a time taking some exposures.
Orchard Oriole - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/10, ISO 400 |
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But it was Linda who came through again, locating the twenty-second new Texas species for my Bird Photography Index - Bell’s Vireo. This was the smallish species we’d observed
flitting about earlier and when I got a look at it I just wasn’t certain on the identification. Although rarely, we were able to get a few decent looks between the binoculars
and lens. This helped to narrow down the bird by body shape, size and field marks so we thought we knew it was a Bell’s. However, it wasn’t until later when Linda listened to the
audio call that it was confirmed – yes, we observed and photographed a
Bell’s Vireo, which can be found pretty much all over Texas in summer and are rare in the Eastern United
States. After checking the range it was no wonder I’d never heard much about this bird in Maine or in the south… This was the fourth new species I’d photographed today - a
successful outing to say the least…
Bell's Vireo - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/640 at f/10, ISO 400 with Flash |
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We were hot and dry… Looking at the time we realized we’d been gone nearly four hours – it was time to get back to the vehicle and check in. As we started back we viewed Steve was coming
down the trail looking for us. He had a pretty good idea of where we’d end up and had anticipated correctly. He told us while walking the grounds not far from where the vehicle was
parked he spotted some Yellow-throated Vireos and asked if I’d photographed these before. ‘No, I never have’ was the reply although these are eastern birds and probably can be found
in my home location and certainly in Georgia. We’d packed fixings for a lunch in the field and decided it would be a good time to eat, drink and take a rest. I hadn’t slept particularly
well the evening before and toting the tripod through this park for multiple hours was wearing on me. I wouldn’t have a changed a thing though and we were going to seek the
twenty-third new species, the fifth of this day…
Insect On-board - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/7.1, ISO 640 |
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Lunch was terrific as usual – lunch meat and all the fixings… We found a picnic table in a shady spot and I set the tripod ready to shoot in case something came by. I drank several
bottles of water as I was feeling dehydrated and tried to get caught up a bit. In our travels we’d talked to a fellow about this place. He told us to check out several areas near a
stream, mostly dry now, but it had isolated pools of water similar to what we found at Friedrich Wilderness Park. He’s observed quite a bit of bird activity around these pools
recently. As everyone enjoyed lunch I walked to a small bridge crossing a stream, jumped down and walked upstream. I found the area the fellow had told us about and planned to
return with my cameras to check it out after lunch.
Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/1000 at f/10, ISO 400 with Flash |
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I talked with everyone about the spot I’d checked out. We all planned to walk down and I indicated there was some shade around and places to sit on the rocks. Before doing this we
walked near the picnic area through the grass checking the tree line. I walking with my tripod slung over my shoulder when I spooked a baby deer. This was the smallest specimen I’d
ever seen and beautifully spotted - the babe ran for the hills when I wandered by. I showed Linda and Sparky the exceptionally small imprint the deer left in the grass was as they came by. We took
our time checking the area before heading down towards the pools. It didn’t take long to locate a
Yellow-throated Vireo…
Yellow-throated Vireo - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/500 at f/7.1, ISO 400 with Flash |
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The environment down where the creek should have been except for the drought was interesting. The isolated pools ran continuously and it didn’t take long to figure out when you set
up on one the birds would move out to another. There was no way to cover much ground so I picked a spot that look promising and set up to see what, if anything would come in. By now
it was blazing hot and there was no way to set up a shoot zone and stay shaded, making for a trying session. While we waited and checked around the area Linda moved out of sight
following the pools. This spot definitely had potential but would be best in morning, as most places generally are when birding and seeking wildlife. Although Linda didn’t return much before we decided
to get out of the sun and return to the truck, her reports of birds she didn’t recognize further on were intriguing. Because it had been such a successful day on the bird photography
effort we talked about coming back here first thing in the morning…
Greater Earless Lizard - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/500 at f/10, ISO 400 with Flash |
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I can’t speak for everyone but I was pleased by the time we returned to the truck. I knew in a few minutes the air conditioning would be cooling us down. I was weary and a ride
in the coolness of the truck was viewed as a good thing at this point. Steve indicated we’d do some vehicle touring for a time to cool down and take it easy. It was mid-afternoon
on a hot day – I didn’t really wish to leave but didn’t particularly mind it either – it had been a five new species morning. Not just visual observing either, I had good shots on all these
subjects and was more than pleased…
Lark Sparrow - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/500 at f/10, ISO 400 with Flash |
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We drove the highway and talked as we scudded our way back to Boerne and the Hampton Inn. Steve took Highway 16 from Fredericksburg so we could take in some Hill Country
views. He wished to make a stop in Medina, Texas. He and Sparky had told us about
The Apple Store in Medina and now we were going to check it out. When we got to the
store the tripod was still in the truck bed, so I told everyone to go in - I’d hang around outside to keep an eye on things and go in afterwards. When we opened the truck
door the heat hit us once again like a blast furnace – yikes. I made a point of finding some shade as I looked around the grounds. This was an interesting stop and I noticed hummingbird
feeders around the building. With my curiosity piqued I thought I’d look around for some birds – you never know what may be in the area. Although I did see some avian activity
I didn’t observe anything out of the ordinary from recent days. Soon Steve came out of the store and asked if I’d like to check it out. I did so, making a quick pass through while the ladies
shopped around and looked at the goods. I thought about purchasing a freshly baked apple pie but in the end didn’t because of transport and other issues, like trying to cut, serve
and eat it in the room. I laughed as the store also advertised a ‘burgertorium’ – I may have tried a burger if we hadn’t already had lunch.
Ants on the Move - At a Stop Along the Road...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 200mm; 1/1000 at f/6.3, ISO 400 Handheld |
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As we were driving along we crossed a bridge spanning a river. Looking down we actually viewed water – we’d observed few rivers and creeks that weren’t dried up, so we were
intrigued. By this time we’d thoroughly discussed adding twenty-three new bird species to the Index – Steve was on a mission to find the twenty-fourth in the time we had remaining. Thinking
water is always a good draw for birds, we decided to go back and check the area. It was nice seeing the slow water flowing over the rocks. We did observe some birds
around – mostly cardinals, but they quickly moved off with us in the area. We stayed for a time but didn’t scare anything up. So we decided to move along.
River View - At a Stop Along the Road...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 70mm; 1/400 at f/6.3, ISO 400 Handheld |
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We made one more stop before Boerne, albeit unplanned. As we drove along we spotted a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk siting on a fence post in a field about thirty-yards off
the road. Steve asked if I wanted to go back to attempt a shot – I did so we back we went. This hawk, one of the few raptors we’d observed in the Hill Country, wasn’t
close. I’d have to get out and attempt to get the long lens on the subject to obtain a successful image. I figured we were far enough away that we’d be outside the birds
comfort zone. However, I was wrong… As soon as the bird viewed me exit the vehicle off he flew off to parts unknown. Oh well, not the first time this had happened and undoubtedly
not the last in my bird photography career. Right next to the truck there was a pen with a bunch of goats, including some young ones that the ladies were making a fuss
about – they were cute. I walked over to see if I could get a shot through the fence. I could have but when I got close the animals must have thought it was feeding time and
came right over to visit, making a fence-free image impossible. I took a few shots and we were on our way back to the hotel…
Goat at a Stop Along the Road...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 95mm; 1/400 at f/5.6, ISO 400 Handheld |
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We arrived at the park before 0800 hours, parked and immediately walked down to the pools of water Linda investigated yesterday. I set up my tripod system near one of
the pools, trying to cover as much of the water and surrounding trees as possible. The photo opportunities over the next hour weren’t bad, but we didn’t see any
new species in the area. After this period we decided to leave he water ponds and re-gear for some landscapes along the trails we traveled yesterday.
White-tailed Deer - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 70mm; 1/400 at f/6.3, ISO 400 Handheld |
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Our time in Texas was running short… I’d planned to do a good bit of landscape work, but in the recent days was so focused on bird photography (no pun intended), I’d exposed
few in ratio. It was so hot that by the time the morning sessions ended, being overheated and somewhat exhausted, all I wanted to do was get out of the warmth of the day to
re-group. I can’t say I let any exceptional landscape possibilities go by, but looking at my files in archive, recognized I had few scenic shots in the group. Enchanted
Rock State Natural Area is a beautiful park and I’d noticed several locations in our hike that I wished to photograph. Today I planned to do this. Stopping by the vehicle
I re-geared a bit for landscapes, although I kept the long lens system intact as we hiked the trail. Steve was kind enough to carry my medium duty tripod, with my RRS ballhead
attached, while I transported the bird imaging gear and Linda carried the bag with additional lenses. Using the medium tripod and ballhead, I shot a series of HDR and conventional
brackets in several picturesque areas with the Mark III 1Ds camera.
HDR View - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area... |
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I’ve found HDR and combined panoramic views work best if one takes time to set up properly – leveling the tripod and camera on the ballhead or gimbal, using a cable release, carefully checking
the exposure, histogram, f stop, etc. I use a shoe-mounted bubble level during set up to keep the system level and true. Sometimes the camera is tilted up or down to achieve the
composition if not employing a tilt-shift lens, but if level to the horizon when you stitch the images in Photoshop later the shot won’t be running downhill or on an angle – a significant factor actually. I have far
too many composite shots that are really long and skinny because once the image was leveled to create a pleasing composition – and I’m a proponent of keeping the image level, much
of the final has to be cropped away. Next time you look at somebody’s snapshots on land or sea, take a look at the background – if something in view that should be level isn’t and
you feel like you wish to tilt your head to make your brain view the scene properly, then you’ve just discovered one of the differences between a snapshot shooter and a photographer. Of
course there are times when you may wish the composition to be otherwise than level for aesthetic or creative purposes…
View at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon Mark IIi 1Ds/TS-E 17mm f/4L; 1/50 at f/16, ISO 100 on tripod |
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The group at right were coming into the shoot zone just after I’d spent several minutes getting everything set up for a bracket series. I asked if they’d mind staying back for
just a short time until I completed the exposures. They were fine with this and I thanked them for their consideration.
Hiking the trails we searched out more landscape possibilities. I’d recently purchased a terrific Really Right Stuff set up for multi-row panoramic shooting (PG-02-LLR) but because the gear was transported by air this trip, didn’t bring it along. I had two tripods in the field as it was. Did I mention it was hot in Texas? Well it was – and Sparky was waiting patiently in the area around the truck so we thought it was time to get back to check on her and seek some sustenance… As was the norm on our vacation in the Hill Country, it had been a wonderful morning. Group Heading Upwards - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/800 at f/8, ISO 400 |
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Back at the vehicle we met up with Sparky to learn what she wished to do next. She was good with finding some food – we’d curbed buying/bringing goods in the field
aside from lots and lots of water because we were
leaving soon. We decided to dine in Fredericksburg – a nice community and tourist area.
Arriving in Fredericksburg, we checked what was around on the main drag for restaurants. We selected an American and German family place – Wheeler’s Restaurant, located at 204 East Main Street. We had a nice lunch with great food and good company. Not simply our group either – Sparky made some friends in the restaurant a table or two over and they were talking her ear off before we got back on the road. We’d recommend Wheeler’s as a great dining spot if you find yourself in the area– if you do stop, tell them Sparky sent you… It had been enjoyable, but I for one had no issue with getting back into the air conditioned truck to do some vehicular sightseeing for a time. We were well fed, hydrated and happy… Linda on the Prowl Seeking Birds - Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 70mm; 1/400 at f/6.3, ISO 400 Handheld |
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Driving back towards Boerne we discussed what everyone may wish to do in the afternoon. We also talked about the fact we didn’t locate the twenty-fourth species. Linda was correct
about the activity around the pools at the base of the ledge – and there may have been new birds to photograph in the area from what we knew about it, but we struck out on this
stop. When investigating new areas like this it’s always wonderful to find new species for my
Bird Photography Index. However, adding twenty-three was exceptional – I’d like an even
two-dozen as well and would have been overjoyed with an even dozen in actuality - there wasn’t a need to get greedy. Steve said no – this won’t do - no more fooling around – he was on a mission
to locate and photograph number twenty-four… He also commented that this was by far the most birding success they’d experienced on Texas visits – a good thing to hear we thought.
Returning to our Hampton Inn home we all enjoyed a siesta for several hours. The ladies headed down to the pool and sun, I did the usual – downloaded the compact flash cards and checked the image group from the morning, and Steve rested and relaxed in the coolness of the interior spaces. Sparky still wasn’t up for a lot of hiking so indicated complete contentment hanging by the pool all afternoon. Steve, Linda and I decided to return to Friedrich Wilderness Park for a few hours after 5:00 PM to check out the fabulous waterhole shoot zone – after all – number twenty-four may be lurking about waiting there for us… View at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 75mm; 1/50th at f/16, ISO 100 |
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We waited quietly to see what may come in for a drink or a dip on this warm afternoon. In the back by the tree line we observed an extremely cautious doe, apparently stopping in for
a drink, but nervous as could be. The deer watched and watched, looking right at us, and the three of us remained perfectly still, not even blinking, to see what would happen
next. Any movement and we recognized the animal would spook. There were plenty of deer around if photography was the intent, but it was neat to enjoy this visitor and we wished the
deer to be comfortable enough to come in for a drink. I was watching the deer at 840 millimeters through the lens. She was looking right in my eye(s) trying to ascertain what the
deal may be and evaluating the potential danger. We remained perfectly still although after a minute or two this became a substantial chore for me. I was wearing shorts and was sitting
right next to an ant colony. A group of these miscreants decided to crawl up my exposed left leg and started stinging the dickens out of me. Yikes – this hurt… But I remained still
and let them bite me for a bit longer until I got a few shots on the deer. Afterwards I showed Linda and Steve my red and chewed up leg – they were surprised I could sit still
through this experience… That’s me - a photographic martyr; ‘suffering for art’ I told them with a chuckle…
Our Deer at Friedrich Wilderness Park...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/15th second at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 800 |
Another character we met this afternoon was the squirrel at right trying to beat the heat… We laughed as the critter came down to drink his/her fill and then sprawled out on a rock
and laid about for a time.. We gathered the rock had been in the shade and was cooler than the surrounding area. This shoot zone was fairly dark, requiring higher ISO ratings than I
would have preferred. You may have noticed the deer image about was only at 1/15th of a second exposure time. At that speed one is fortunate to even obtain a ‘keeper’ image – a shot
without movement or blurring.
Squirrel trying to Beat the Heat...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/125th at f/5.6, ISO 800 |
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We spotted this Western Fence Lizard on a tree near the tripod set up so I swung over to take a few exposures. This was an interesting and colorful creature and didn’t appear to
mind becoming the minor celebrity of the moment.
The light under the tree canopy was darkening. I checked my watch and knew it was about time to head back to the hotel. Returning to Boerne, we stopped to pick up Sparky and conducted an expedition to purchase food for our evening meal at the H-E-B store we liked so well. Linda and I hosted a light dinner in our hotel room – cheese, summer sausage with fruit and vegetable platters along with a few other goodies. We checked out some of the day’s images on the computer and visited for a time. By 2100 hours Steve and Pam were on the way back to their room. Another excellent day in the Hill Country was behind us – tomorrow represented the last field day of our time in Texas… Only one day remained to locate the elusive twenty-fourth... Western Fence Lizard...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/125th second at f/5.6 with Flash, ISO 800 |
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We arrived at the store and in a matter of minutes I had the tripod out of the truck bed and was set up to shoot. This was a target rich environment and I’d have been happy staying all
day long except we weren’t observing any new species at this stop. One never knows what might fly in however, and getting out and looking is certainly the key.
As I checked the area I noticed a bird high up in a tree across the road from my position. I’d have to move the tripod to get the lens on this subject, so called Steve and Linda over to have a look. I told them I thought it was an American Bittern as viewed naked eye, but a binocular observation determined it was a Green Heron quickly enough. The two images below are of this bird... First Summer Blue Grosbeak...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/5.6, ISO 640 |
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I remained active watching and photographing birds in the trees and those landing around the feeding area. This was indeed a great spot with a diverse species group. Today it consisted
mostly of a few Indigo and Painted Buntings, many Black-chinned Hummingbirds at the four feeding stations, Blue Grosbeaks, Lesser Goldfinches and more. I was particularly interested
in nailing some shots on a Indigo Bunting, but never really had a good opportunity as I tracked those in the area. I
know where to find these in Maine; however, an ideal photographic
opportunity on one of these beautiful blue birds has always remained elusive. Linda came over indicating she’d been watching an Eastern Phoebe and learned the bird had a nest with chicks
underneath the roofline of the building. I had to relocate the tripod to take a shot on this nest – it was high up and represented a steep angle, but I did manage a few exposures on the
birds. At left is an example and I placed a few more in the template above.
My compatriots were spread out and searching the area but I had a suspicion they were getting a bit impatient and wished to seek new venues – it was time to move on. I shortened the tripod legs and dropped the system into the truck bed – we were heading to Lost Maples State Natural Area a short distance away… Linda's Eastern Phoebe Chicks...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/100 second at f/10 with Flash, ISO 800 |
Steve and I visited the park office where he displayed the pass to get us in the facility. We drove the grounds to have a look around and seek out avian activity before deciding
where to park. As we rounded a bend in the roadway we were greeted with a beautiful view of the Sabinal River in wonderful light. We all agreed this scene would make a compelling
photograph and a fine remembrance of our trip, so we stopped and I set up to bracket some HDR data…
Black-chinned Hummingbird...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/6.3, ISO 400 |
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Moving on in the park, I wanted to check around the bird observation blind, a location that on our last visit had been productive with lots of activity. This blind woud work well for
photography except
for the fact it has Plexiglas observation windows, rendering it less than desirable for this endeavor – I’m not interested in exposing through glass, whether in doors or windows,
adding another layer with possible distortion to contend with in the image train. I remained on the
outside of the building, situated in as good a spot as possible to cover the most ground. As before, today was active and I tracked multiple birds moving through the area. None
represented new species, but I was busy - therefore happy, taking exposures. We watched a group of bees fighting with the Black-chinned Hummingbirds over which group would dominate
the hummingbird feeders. They took turns chasing one another away from the feeders in a continuous cycle. I’m always amazed at how aggressive hummies can be and today was no
exception – they were getting right after these bees to defend their territory… We stayed at the blind area for over an hour and I photographed Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, flying
and perched views of Black-chinned Hummingbirds, ever-present Northern Cardinals, Western Scrub-Jays and a few titmouse and cowbirds. I also learned the park is serious about display
of the park pass on vehicles. A ranger came through and checked every car and truck to verify the day pass was displayed…
Bees on the Hummingbird Feeder...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 second at f/7.1 with Flash, ISO 400 |
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We remained at Lost Maples until around noontime. If we were to locate the twenty-fourth new species it didn’t appear to be here, at least on this morning, although not from any lack of
effort by our group.
The temperature was normal for the season by now – hot… There was another place we wished to visit on our last day – a new site and
one that even Steve and Pam hadn’t been to in their previous Texas travels – Garner State Park in Concan, Texas. After agreement that everybody was ready to move on we packed up the
vehicle and left Lost Maples State Natural Area…
Hummingbird with Attitude...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/13, ISO 400 |
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On the road once again we decided to stop if we observed anything of interest – after all, this was our last opportunity from this time away… As we were driving up some high ground, out the window we
looked back upon a view of the river below. Deciding to pull over at an overlook, I set up and took some HDR brackets to capture the scene. Two of these can be viewed below. While at this stop a fellow
came by and we talked for a moment. He indicated he’d lived in this area most of his life and this was the most severe drought in living memory. It appeared some of the locals were
more than concerned about what would happen if they didn’t receive some rain soon - this was understandable. We also photographed another turtle slogging along doing his/her thing in the hot Texas sun…
Turtle Along the Way...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 200mm; 1/800 at f/5.6, ISO 400 Handheld |
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We reconnoitered the park by vehicle to see what was around. Afterwards we parked near a shaded picnic table where we broke out some sandwich fixings and enjoyed a good lunch in fine
company. While we were there a Summer Tanager stopped by and a Golden-fronted Woodpecker flew into a nearby tree. This place appears to have potential I thought as I munched my
sandwich. Afterwards we properly disposed of our lunch debris and headed for the river… As we drove around we were amazed at the number of people in the area – this was unlike most of the
other places we’d visited. This must be considered a premier destination from what we could tell – business was booming. Because of this it also appeared a less likely location to do
what we’d come to do – seeking birds. It didn’t appear there was anywhere to get away from a good deal of activity at first glance. We kept driving along the river until the foot
traffic thinned out, parked the truck and went down for a look…
View in the Park...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 70mm; 1/320 at f/6.3, ISO 400 Handheld |
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This stop proved fortuitous on several counts… I pulled the tripod out and prepared the system to take some exposures – by now a more than daily routine still requiring some safety
considerations. I surely would have hated banging the lens, have it fall off the tripod for whatever reason, or simply drop it in transport due to a stumble or other mishap. We
walked the area and checked along the water. Although not nearly as crowded as other sections along the river were, we still had people around enjoying the water, but not in our
immediate front. We observed a bird fly into a field on our right. Everyone raised their binoculars while I maneuvered to close the range and obtain a line of site on a possible
subject. Steve yelled over – there it is – Number Twenty-four – he knew exactly what this bird was, an Ash-throated Flycatcher, because he’d looked for them in the Hill Country
on previous visits. The bird was displaying classic flycatcher behavior I noticed, but when it flew into a nearby tree the identification was made certain by visual confirmation
and the photographic record… I stayed with this western flycatcher as long as it remained in the area. I turned back to the water a short walk away to join Linda, who was observing
the surroundings around the river with Steve and Sparky. All of a sudden Steve started yelling – ‘did you see that? Look at that!’ Linda and I looked up in anticipation – and didn’t
see anything… Steve said as long as
he’s been coming to Texas he’d wanted to observe a Ringed Kingfisher and today he viewed one flying pell-mell down the river. It was long gone and there was no chance of
re-locating it – we’d missed the potential twenty-fifth bird…
Ash-throated Flycatcher...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/7.1, ISO 400 |
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Walking and observing the area it was clear there was much going on around the water although at first glance it didn't appear so. I stalked a Waterthrush who started out across
the river and eventually made it to our
side, although never close in. I was really excited to see some dragon and damselflies not far from shore. Without having to get too wet I was able to get a near perfect set up
on a beautiful dragonfly later identified as a White-belted Ringtail. I was more than pleased with the images on this creature and would comment this is probably the best dragonfly photograph
I’ve obtained from many in various states across the land. This is also one of favorite shots from Texas – if you can get all, or neary all of a dragonfly in critical focus there’s
something to be said
about one’s skill level. Luck can play its hand once in a while, but having time to get all the parameters correct for this type of shot is not always simple, even when you’re
familiar with the task. The two shots below are the same species of dragonfly. You can tell they are detailed and look great – but they can also be printed at 16 X 24 inches
with amazing detail if I choose to do so - it's difficult to do better than that…
View in the River...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/16, ISO 400 with Flash |
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I was spending time at water’s edge photographing dragon and damselflies in the harsh light and hot sun of mid- afternoon when Linda came over to talk. She kept hearing a warbler
in the vicinity and asked if I had been hearing it as well. I told her I hadn’t – no big surprise with this. I was interested in helping to track down whatever it may be. Turns
out she was correct – we located a Yellow-throated Warbler nearly straight overhead, high in the
canopy. This must be near the western edge of the range for this species. I was pleased
to see this beautiful warbler and definitely wished to photograph it if possible. While not a new bird for the Index, I hadn’t viewed these often and when I did it was mostly in
Georgia. Although there have been reports of Yellow-throated Warblers in Maine I don’t recall ever seeing one and have never imaged one around my home area. I relocated the tripod
attempting to track the bird. The lens was pointing as high to the zenith as I could get so I backed up from the tree to follow the warbler as it foraged. Tracking a warbler through
a long lens high in the canopy is somewhat of an acquired skill – the field of view through the lens is narrow and you really aren’t viewing much of the surroundings with your eye
in the viewfinder. Having a spotter is helpful to vocalize where the bird is moving or has moved. A skilled spotter, which included the group I’d been traveling with for multiple
days, can do this well enough that you don’t have to take your eye from the viewfinder – just keep moving the lens to the narrative and take exposures when the opportunity is
presented…
Dragonfly on the Frio River...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/14, ISO 400 with Flash |
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The day was progressing – it was getting to the hottest section of the day, when we generally stayed out of the sun when we could. We discussed where we would go if we left the park
now, trying to determine if we wished to do so. Steve opined he knew of another location we could check on the return trip to Boerne. This would allow everyone a chance to rest and
cool off in the vehicle for a time and still not end the day in the field. Sparky wasn’t saying much either way, but we suspected she was still hurting and just going along with the
program being the trooper that she was. Admittedly, as much as I enjoyed our field time – the reason we came to Texas, I generally had no issue with getting back into the air-conditioned
truck when it was time to move on. Linda wouldn’t care if it was 125 degrees in the shade – she’d stay out as long as daylight prevailed and hike the entire time seeking birds and
other wildlife as she enjoyed the scenery and the routine break from our everyday lives.
Western Fence Lizard...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/7.1, ISO 400 with Flash |
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Steve had read a birding blog about a place named Utopia Park and this location is what he had in mind to cheeck out. We agreed – why not take a look to see what may be around. Once the
decision was made to move on we made short time of making this happen. Along the way we kept on the lookout for landscapes of interest, however, we weren’t all that far
from Utopia, Texas…
Sparky and Steve Walking near the Frio River...Canon 5d/EF 70~200mm f/2.8L II at 200mm; 1/640 at f/5, ISO 400 Handheld |
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We located Utopia Park and stayed around for about forty-five minutes. However, I didn’t archive a single image from this stop. There was little activity and few birds around
this day. It was hot as blazes and everything (and everybody - we didn't see any people around) was most likely lying low in the heat of the day. The site had a dam
with the water backed up forming a small lake. This place definitely
had potential and Steve indicated the account he’d read was by a local birder who’d developed quite a list from frequent visits to this site over all seasons. One end had a swampy
type look with some dead trees – we checked this area carefully for kingfishers, Green Kingfishers in particular, as they’d be observed here previously. We didn’t see kingfishers or
much on this day and after Linda returned from a stroll by the dam to make certain we weren’t missing anything, we got back on the road headed for Boerne. Our time in Utopia wasn’t
exactly what we’d hoped…
Our Friend Steve Hudson...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/6.3, ISO 400 with Flash |
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We arrived back at our Hampton Inn home just before 1700 hours. It had been a long, hot day but we were okay with how things had turned out. We’d located and photographed the
twenty-fourth new species for my Index – truly a banner result for one trip. The return today was different though – this was the last time we’d be in the field together this trip. We
were at the point where everything had to be taken out of the truck and re-packed for the trip east. I think we were all saddened by this realization, the camaraderie and shared
adventures had been great fun and we recognized that after tomorrow we’d return to different states and the real world. We decided to have dinner on our last last night same as the
first – the Chili’s restaurant near our hotel. After cleaning up and unloading the gear we had a wonderful dinner together followed by an ice cream at a local Dairy Queen we’d
spotted nearby in our travels.
The balance of the evening was spent in break-down and packing of photographic equipment – all carefully checked and packed as best as could be for air travel, and our personal gear. Linda and I didn’t fly out of San Antonio until afternoon but with the baggage for four of us in the truck – Steve and Sparky were heading east as soon as we were dropped at the airport - we couldn’t go anywhere or do much away from the vehicle as the back of the truck was freighted. With us in the cab and a short bed, we had all we could do to pack in an organized fashion for the forty-minute trip into the city. Our Friend Pam Hudson...Canon 1Ds Mark III/EF600mm f/4L + 1.4X = 840mm; 1/250 at f/9, ISO 400 with Flash |
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There wasn’t much to be done in way of normal activities similar to the past weeks, but we didn’t have to check out of the hotel immediately either. Steve and Pam mentioned that we
should spent as much time as everyone required in the morning and then we’d meet to go to breakfast at the Old Spanish Trail restaurant in Bandera, Texas, not too long a ride from
Boerne. We thought this an excellent plan – we could pack in total but leave the bags in our rooms until we returned, then re-gear and check-out.
Bandera is known as the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World’ and is an interesting location. With a population of just over 1,200, it forms a part of the San Antonio metro area. The Old Spanish Trail (OST) restaurant is as famous as the town we found. We’d been by here a few times but this was the first time we planned to stop. The facility was active but we found a table easily enough and enjoyed a wonderful breakfast – the best we’d had during our time in Texas. This could well be because it was the only dedicated restaurant we’d frequented for a morning meal in our time in state of course, but it was grand. They have a bar with saddles in lieu of regular stools to sit on while one goes about their business and a dedicated John Wayne room with many photographs of the Duke exhibited. It was a neat stop and I’m glad we took the time before heading to San Antonio… In Bandera, Texas... |
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Soon enough we were packed and on our way to the airport… It was a sad separating from our friends of so many recent adventures, but once in front of the airport drop off one has
little time to dally before being informed it’s time to move on. We pulled our bags from the truck and gave Pam and Steve a final hug so they could be on their way home as
well. Our Texas vacation was at an end.
View in Luckenbach, Texas...Canon 5d/EF 24~105mm f/4L at 40mm; 1/160 at f/9, ISO 400 Handheld |
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I dedicate this account to all our Texas friends for their hospitality and comradeship. But most importantly, I wish to recognize my traveling companions – Steve, Pam (Ms. Sparky)
and Linda, for making this trip so much fun…
In Dedication to My Companions in the Texas Hill Country... |
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Do you recall earlier where it was mentioned about all that talk of motorcycles and looking at new machines had consequences? Shortly before we departed for Texas I’d
taken delivery of a new Ford F150 pick-up. I wished to place a cap on it, but had to order one from the factory to have the paint color match the vehicle. I asked
the dealership to take the vehicle down to have the cap mounted if it came in while we were away. It did and they did - when I returned it was sitting in our driveway with all
the extras I'd requested installed. I ordered the cap with no side windows and as I viewed it thought I needed to do something to make it stand out. ‘I know’, I thought – I’d
purchase a tasteful Harley-Davidson sticker to place on the rear window of the cap. So the day after we returned home I stopped by our local dealership in Portland - Big Moose
Harley-Davidson, to look at the decals. After all the motorcycle discussions and dealer visits Steve and I had conducted while in Texas this probably wasn’t the best of
ideas… Anyway, before that Saturday had ended I’d traded my 2005 Road King Classic for a 2011 FLTRU103 – a Road Glide Ultra touring motorcycle.
Thanks for making me think about motorcycles for two solid weeks Steve – I absolutely love it! But I did have some explaining to do after I rode it home...2011 Harley-Davidson FLTRU103 - Road Glide Ultra... |
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