Texas Bird Photography: Laguna Seca Ranch: Part 2 Rio Grande Valley

Laguna Seca Ranch in south Texas is a unique bird photography destination. For a $280 fee I had a personal guide and use of three different photo blinds. ...One for raptors including Crested Caracara, Harris's Hawks, Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures.The songbird blinds produced goodies like Green Jays, Long-billed and Curve-billed Thrashers, Pyrrhuloxia, Bobwhite, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, Lesser Goldfinches, Black-crested Titmouse, and Olive Sparrow. A javelina even wanders by!
www.thephotonaturalist.com
www.sparkyphotos.com

[@kevinreichenbach5326]

Sparky, I hadn't heard of this one. I'll have to make that a point of interest for next falls trip to RVG.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Definitely Kevin. Consensus seems to be that it is the best ranch with blinds in the Valley. Have a great trip!

[@jameslove1092]

HI sparky. Disappointed greatly to see you in a hide. Potentially turning these birds from hunters to scavengers for generations to come after them. Leave to hunt naturally in nature.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi James, I respect your opinion. But I don’t fully agree. The raptors that come to this blind are scavengers already…Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Crested Caracaras. The Harris’s Hawks eat carrion though it’s not their primary food. I guess I don’t see that this is any different than backyard birdfeeders or putting up deer rib cages in the winter for woodpeckers and chickadees and jays IMHO. Just how I see it. But I certainly respect your opinion. Thank you.

[@tracyreaume6451]

New subbie from Alberta, 🇨🇦. Love your videos.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Glad to have you as part of the community, Tracy! I have never been to Alberta if you can believe that. Someday!

[@Gogogordy1]

Color me jealous!

[@JeffWeymier]

Great Video. You look a lot different without all your winter garb on.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Ha! I guess I do. I let my beard grow out again but now that spring is theoretically coming I need to shave it. Hard to think about spring when there’s still feet of snow and the temperature this morning was 5°.

[@nairb2173]

loving your channel dude, cool stuff!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Appreciate it Nairb! More coming :-)

[@kathleensteeves488]

Brilliant ❤❤❤❤❤

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks again, Kathleen

[@stefangoldensteinwildlife9929]

Very nice footage of All the animals. You made some amazing shots. They area is looking awesome. Well done. Greets Stefan

[@SparkyStensaas]

Many thanks Stefan! Maybe I asked you before but what part of the world do you live in?

[@g57462]

Wonderful outing thank you for sharing Sparky

[@SparkyStensaas]

Glad you enjoyed it! Texas 3 coming up

[@g57462]

@@SparkyStensaas looking forward to next episode 😀

[@bolleolympus]

👍👍skumle fugler!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Yes!

[@joekwasniewski9407]

Amazing, jaw-dropping video, Sparky. Been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. I have to check this place out!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you, Joe! Even if you don’t get it to yourself (I was just lucky that no one else had booked that day) there’s plenty of room for two or three others and having the guide was really stellar.

[@kathleensteeves488]

When I look at the power f those Hawks I’m good right here in my armchair you go Sparky!❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@SparkyStensaas]

Absolutely!

[@philipculbertson55]

Really beautiful portraits Sparky. I wondered about how birds react when flashed. So they don't mind it at all? That is a great tip.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Birds, don’t mind flash at all… In my experience. A very few might flinch at the first flash, but are quickly used to it. Lots of misinformation out there about flash and birds. Flash can really help on both really sunny/hot light days and heavy overcast/cloudy days. Thanks for watching the videos! One more Texas video coming.

[@almeadows8277]

Great photography, as always, my friend. I’m beaucoup envious of your Harris’s Hawk shots; they are a gorgeous species and you captured them beautifully.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Many thanks Al! It’s obviously not a wilderness experience, but blind-shooting is fun once in a while.

[@AdrianW_photo]

Looks like an amazing place and one worth a visit. You captured some super images.

[@SparkyStensaas]

It was, Adrian! Thanks for your kind words!

[@lillylv]

Beautiful Sparky!! You have outdone yourself!!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you, Amy! How are you?

[@hadhramyusa]

Wow,what a great spot to be. Thanks for sharing and I'm sure one day I'll be there.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Great Sal. Definitely worth the price.

[@terryroth2855]

Holy Smokes, Sparky. How could you stand it there. No snow, no cold, no howling wind. Looked like tons of fun to me. Thanks for sharing. Made my day.👍👍

[@SparkyStensaas]

Ha! I know, right? As I look out the window now, the snow is coming down pretty darn heavy. I can’t lie though… I love winter until early April, and then I am ready for one last ski and then happy if it all melts away.

[@patkeen8668]

Thanks again for taking us along. This is a welcomed change from your normal icy, snowy and windy videos. Ha

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks Pat! Yes, no frozen fingers when trying to take photos :-)

[@ryanmarshik8971]

Lots of great shots. Panning blurs and that Harris hawk focus pull! So nice

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks man! Hard to be creative in this type of situation but gave it a shot.

[@ronboe6325]

This reminds me a couple Morten Hilmer videos when he visits a similar operation in Norway. Ufdah; so many good shots. You certainly got a lot of keepers. Well done.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Ha! We are big fans of Morten!… Bridget and I just watched his Norway adventures with the “mountain man.“. Love it!

[@ronboe6325]

@@SparkyStensaas I strongly suspected you might be aware of him. :D

[@douglaswetzel3221]

Thanks for a great and very informative video! I hope to visit there soon.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks, Douglas! I highly recommend it :-)

[@andrewlamberson539]

Looked like a great place to be!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Andrew, It is a fantastic place for “set up“ photography using photo blinds. Highly recommend it!