Location, Location, Location for Diverse and Abundant Wildlife

[JimFromAZ]

Hi All,
Whether you are focused on wildlife or BIF, what location in the U.S. provides you with both diverse and abundant targets in natural settings? I totally understand if you focus on one kind of bird such as Osprey or Bald Eagles, but what if a photographer wants to photograph many species of birds or non-avian wildlife. Where does one go for this? I'm located in central Arizona and I venture out to the various hot spots like Gilbert Riparian Preserve and the Salt River. But lately I've been asking myself, "where have all the birds gone?". If I want to expand my horizons outside of central Arizona, and maybe even consider spending a season or half a year elsewhere in the US, is there anywhere I can go and be overwhelmed by the number and variety of birds or wildlife? I am aware of the special trips offered by Steve and other photographers, and these are on my list, but would I be missing out if I didn't check out your favorite location that fits these requirements (diversity and abundance)? Thanks!

 

[Tom Reynolds]

1-The Everglades, Lake Okeechobee.
2-South Texas Rio Grande Valley

 

[Hatch1921]

Bosque Del Apache -- Socorro NM

Two trips this past November. https://www.frankhatcher.com/frank-hatcher-photography-blog

Lots of wildlife to photograph. The geese and sandhill cranes are migrating south. I visited the refuge in Jan of 2018 and had plenty of phtographic opportunities.

It's not a bad drive if you go up through Flagstaff across or if you head south on I-10 and then across. It's going to be close to the same travel times. This time of year depending on the weather, the southern route might be best. We hit a lot of snow on the northern route.

Just my $.02
Hatch

 

[PAUL50]

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons for mammals hands down. Been there twice with a third trip planned for June. Grizzly and Black Bear, Wolf, Coyote, Elk, Bison, Moose, fox, you name it, it's out there! And don't forget the little mammals! Tons of birds as well. I love the place. Don't let the stories about crowds scare you away either. It's very crowded during the middle of the day but best shooting times are early morning and late in the day. The tourists are just waking up or going to dinner then. I use the afternoons to get something to eat and process photos, then out the door for the late afternoon, early evening. The landscape is beautiful and beyond comparison. While out there don't overlook Custer State Park, the Badlands and Glacier NP are not far away. You could spend a lifetime out there and never tire of the photographic opportunities.

 

[GrandNagus50]

You are in Arizona already, so I guess you are already familiar with the wonders of the southeastern part of the state where the ranges of a number of northern Mexican species creep across the border into the U.S. (legally ) A list of the best sites is here:

Key Birding Sites in Southeastern Arizona

Maps, links and information about all the best birding sites in southeast Arizona from Arizona Birder Richard Fray, professional birding guide in SE Arizona, USA.

www.arizonabirder.com

Also, time of year makes a difference. If you are bird photographer, April and May are important months because that's when so many neotropical species migrate north to breed. Getting their photos before or after one of their major water crossings presents opportunities. Magee Marsh in northern Ohio during the first couple of weeks of May is fabulous (most years), and the Gulf Coast of Texas in April is also terrific (High Island is a Mecca for many birders during April).

As has been discussed in this forum fairly recently, the wildlife photography ranches in southern Texas are a "must visit," in my opinion. Santa Clara and Laguna Seca Ranches are the most popular, but there are others, as well. Peak season seems to be March-May, but people visit these places in other months, as well (not during midsummer so much).

A good strategy might be to check the various websites where wildlife photography tours are offered a get an idea of when and where these trips go.

 

[JimFromAZ]

1-The Everglades, Lake Okeechobee.
2-South Texas Rio Grande Valley

Hi Tom, I started researching the Rio Grande Valley and it looks very promising. Came across the Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park site and that led me to the World Birding Center. Just skimmed the surface so more time is needed researching these potential spots.

Fifty miles or so north of Lake Okeechobee is Blue Cypress Lake, known for its many Osprey. Mark Smith offers photography trips there and this is on my list. The Lake Okeechobee area looks promising too. Thanks for the info!

 

[DavidT]

Florida, south Texas are birding wonderlands especially in the winter and migration months.

 

[JimFromAZ]

Yellowstone and Grand Tetons for mammals hands down. Been there twice with a third trip planned for June. Grizzly and Black Bear, Wolf, Coyote, Elk, Bison, Moose, fox, you name it, it's out there! And don't forget the little mammals! Tons of birds as well. I love the place. Don't let the stories about crowds scare you away either. It's very crowded during the middle of the day but best shooting times are early morning and late in the day. The tourists are just waking up or going to dinner then. I use the afternoons to get something to eat and process photos, then out the door for the late afternoon, early evening. The landscape is beautiful and beyond comparison. While out there don't overlook Custer State Park, the Badlands and Glacier NP are not far away. You could spend a lifetime out there and never tire of the photographic opportunities.

Hi Paul, We took a family trip to Glacier and Yellowstone NP. Loved it! One thing I realized though...it's hard to combine photography with family trips! Wildlife photography, especially, requires patience and this is not a commodity I've found while trying to chauffeur the family to meals and hotels and plan the next family activity. But I digress...The Grand Tetons are beautiful, Glacier is incredible. This whole area is on my list and I could seriously see myself migrating there in the summers while Phoenix bakes at 110+ degrees. Also want to explore Yellowstone in the winter for wildlife and landscapes.

I like your daily routine to avoid crowds. Do you fly or drive out there? South Dakota is on my list as well. Take care...

 

[JimFromAZ]

Bosque Del Apache -- Socorro NM

Two trips this past November. https://www.frankhatcher.com/frank-hatcher-photography-blog

Lots of wildlife to photograph. The geese and sandhill cranes are migrating south. I visited the refuge in Jan of 2018 and had plenty of phtographic opportunities.

It's not a bad drive if you go up through Flagstaff across or if you head south on I-10 and then across. It's going to be close to the same travel times. This time of year depending on the weather, the southern route might be best. We hit a lot of snow on the northern route.

Just my $.02
Hatch

Thanks, Hatch! I have Bosque Del Apache on my list. Nice pics. Is November the best time to go or is it busy in later months as well? Thanks for the routing information.

 

[Strodav]

I'm in SE Texas in the middle of the bird migration path. While we see quite a few different species all year around, the spring and fall in any park with a decent size pond or lake are very exciting. You just have to keep an eye on the various birding websites for the best times and places.

 

[PAUL50]

Hi Paul, We took a family trip to Glacier and Yellowstone NP. Loved it! One thing I realized though...it's hard to combine photography with family trips! Wildlife photography, especially, requires patience and this is not a commodity I've found while trying to chauffeur the family to meals and hotels and plan the next family activity. But I digress...The Grand Tetons are beautiful, Glacier is incredible. This whole area is on my list and I could seriously see myself migrating there in the summers while Phoenix bakes at 110+ degrees. Also want to explore Yellowstone in the winter for wildlife and landscapes.

I like your daily routine to avoid crowds. Do you fly or drive out there? South Dakota is on my list as well. Take care...

Having four now fully grown kids I hear you about family trips and wildlife photography, they just don’t mix well. LOL! I flew out the first time and rented a car. The second time I drove out with my 4Runner, which was, in my opinion the best choice. I’ll drive out again when I go out in June. It’s a long ride from West Virginia but I use it as an opportunity to visit all sorts of places on the way out and back. I can also load up all the equipment I think I’ll need without concern for transport and weight limits.

 

[JimFromAZ]

You are in Arizona already, so I guess you are already familiar with the wonders of the southeastern part of the state where the ranges of a number of northern Mexican species creep across the border into the U.S. (legally ) A list of the best sites is here:

Key Birding Sites in Southeastern Arizona

Maps, links and information about all the best birding sites in southeast Arizona from Arizona Birder Richard Fray, professional birding guide in SE Arizona, USA.

www.arizonabirder.com

Also, time of year makes a difference. If you are bird photographer, April and May are important months because that's when so many neotropical species migrate north to breed. Getting their photos before or after one of their major water crossings presents opportunities. Magee Marsh in northern Ohio during the first couple of weeks of May is fabulous (most years), and the Gulf Coast of Texas in April is also terrific (High Island is a Mecca for many birders during April).

As has been discussed in this forum fairly recently, the wildlife photography ranches in southern Texas are a "must visit," in my opinion. Santa Clara and Laguna Seca Ranches are the most popular, but there are others, as well. Peak season seems to be March-May, but people visit these places in other months, as well (not during midsummer so much).

A good strategy might be to check the various websites where wildlife photography tours are offered a get an idea of when and where these trips go.

Thanks for the link to Arizona Birder! Madera Canyon is on that page and on my list as well. This gives me some local spots to check out.

Hadn't heard of these wildlife photography ranches until now. That Laguna Seca Ranch is just north of the Edinburg Scenic Wetlands mentioned on the World Birding Center website.

I have started reviewing the locations mentioned in various wildlife photography tours, so that's a good bit of advice. Take care.....

 

[JAS]

Horicon and Necedah National Refuges in Wisconsin - Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, ducks, geese, osprey, eagles, hawks, deer, black bears and others
Mississipi North - Swans; Northern Wisconsin flowages - Eagles (almost 1700 nests), osprey(nearly 600 nests), loons, and more with eagle nests in 71 of our 72 ccounties.
There is also a very active peregrine program with many power plants hosting nesting boxes.
Prairie du Sac/Sauk City - Eagles below the dams in Dec/Jan. Snowy owls at many locations in winter (114 counted thru 15 Dec).
Wild turkeys, deer, herons, and many other birds in urban park areas in Milwaukee, Madison
Look for state specific wildlife and bird Facebook pages for ideas and dnr.wisconsin.gov for more info,

 

[JimFromAZ]

Having four now fully grown kids I hear you about family trips and wildlife photography, they just don’t mix well. LOL! I flew out the first time and rented a car. The second time I drove out with my 4Runner, which was, in my opinion the best choice. I’ll drive out again when I go out in June. It’s a long ride from West Virginia but I use it as an opportunity to visit all sorts of places on the way out and back. I can also load up all the equipment I think I’ll need without concern for transport and weight limits.

Paul, driving is my plan as well. In August I purchased a 2009 GX470 and it seems well kept. I'm now deciding on equipment storage and overlanding gear I might need for trips north to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier and elsewhere. And checking out places along the way is exactly my thought too.

 

[SonoranDesert]

Chiricahua Mountains and Huachuca Mountains (SE AZ) Springtime!! Hundreds of species.

 

[JimFromAZ]

Horicon and Necedah National Refuges in Wisconsin - Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, ducks, geese, osprey, eagles, hawks, deer and others
Mississipi North - Swans; Northern Wisconsin flowages - Eagles, osprey, loons, and more with eagle nests in 71 of our 72 ccounties.
There is also a very active peregrine program with many power plants hosting nesting boxes.
Prairie du Sac/Sauk City - Eagles below the dams in Dec/Jan. Snowy owls at many locationsin winter(now).
Wild turkeys, deer, herons, and many other birds in urban park areas in Milwaukee, Madison.
Look for state specific wildlife and bird Facebook pages for ideas.

Thanks, JAS! Lots of activity in Wisconsin! any favorite locations for those Snowy Owls?

Speaking of eagles around dams, Conowingo Dam in Maryland is hailed as a terrific spot for Bald Eagles during November and December.

There is a Facebook page I follow here in Arizona. Great idea! Take care....

 

[JimFromAZ]

Chiricahua Mountains and Huachuca Mountains (SE AZ) Springtime!! Hundreds of species.

Thanks, Lisa! Is Madera Canyon part of those mountain ranges? Do you have a favorite location in the Chiricahua's and Hauchuca's? Take care....

 

[Hatch1921]

Thanks, Hatch! I have Bosque Del Apache on my list. Nice pics. Is November the best time to go or is it busy in later months as well? Thanks for the routing information.

The crane festival takes place in November. I went the the second week and the last week of November, the first week...crazy amount of wildlife. The last week, about 2/3rds less but plenty to photograph. Next year I'm going to go the last week in October to hopefully catch the start of the migration and the trees should be in full color. January was very cold but there were still lots of birds and other animals to photograph. This was before the drought really hit and more ponds were available. It's a gamble I suppose as the birds are migrating south. I would give it a try in November .. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Hatch

 

[SonoranDesert]

Thanks, Lisa! Is Madera Canyon part of those mountain ranges? Do you have a favorite location in the Chiricahua's and Hauchuca's? Take care....

Hi @JimFromAZ , Madera Canyon is in the Santa Rita Mountains and I would put that on your list as well. In the Chiricahuas I would start in Portal, AZ on the eastside of the mountains. As for the Huachucas…Ramsey Canyon, Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon, Carr Canyon…And anything on the San Pedro River. From the looks of this thread you, my friend, are going to be a busy photographer. Can’t wait to see what you ”capture”!

 

[Abinoone]

Depends on what kind of Wildlife you're interested in. For birds, you can't go wrong in Florida - a great abundance and variety of species just about everywhere there, and many are acclimated to people, which makes it easier to capture compelling images. There are many nature preserves and natural areas in Florida (Everglades, Big Cypress, Viera Wetlands, etc.) but I've found that almost any beach or forested area teems with birds of all kinds - a vast array of shorebirds (including my favorite, black skimmers), osprey, Eagles, and other raptors, burrowing owls, spoonbills, flamingos, egrets, herons, pelicans - too many to list.

An often overlooked paradise for waterfowl is Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, especially in the "shoulder" seasons - spring and fall. I've gone there often, and have never been disappointed. It's also a fantastic place for amazing land and seascapes.

For mammals, the obvious choices would be places like Yellowstone (America's Serengeti), Alaska, and Churchill, to name but a few.

 

[JAS]

Thanks, JAS! Lots of activity in Wisconsin! any favorite locations for those Snowy Owls?

Speaking of eagles around dams, Conowingo Dam in Maryland is hailed as a terrific spot for Bald Eagles during November and December.

There is a Facebook page I follow here in Arizona. Great idea! Take care....

For Snowy owls, they will be reported by county to discourage over pressure. Generally, there are many along the Lake Michidan shoreline, including downtown Milwaukee right now, and a couple of known preserves. My health has nat allowed me to do much searching this year, but will do so in the next couple of weeks.
I used to fish at Conowingo dam when Stationed in Maryland in hte early 80s (Army). Not many eagles around back in those days.

 

[JimFromAZ]

The crane festival takes place in November. I went the the second week and the last week of November, the first week...crazy amount of wildlife. The last week, about 2/3rds less but plenty to photograph. Next year I'm going to go the last week in October to hopefully catch the start of the migration and the trees should be in full color. January was very cold but there were still lots of birds and other animals to photograph. This was before the drought really hit and more ponds were available. It's a gamble I suppose as the birds are migrating south. I would give it a try in November .. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Hatch

Thanks a bunch, Hatch!

 

[JimFromAZ]

Hi @JimFromAZ , Madera Canyon is in the Santa Rita Mountains and I would put that on your list as well. In the Chiricahuas I would start in Portal, AZ on the eastside of the mountains. As for the Huachucas…Ramsey Canyon, Miller Canyon, Ash Canyon, Carr Canyon…And anything on the San Pedro River. From the looks of this thread you, my friend, are going to be a busy photographer. Can’t wait to see what you ”capture”!

Thanks, Lisa! Yeah this thread has me creating a long list of destinations, perhaps a lifetime of destinations. I wanted to see if there was a consensus on favorite spots but also was curious about local finds that most of us may never have considered. Researching the locations listed in this thread has also made me aware of many more existing resources for birding and photography.

 

[JimFromAZ]

Depends on what kind of Wildlife you're interested in. For birds, you can't go wrong in Florida - a great abundance and variety of species just about everywhere there, and many are acclimated to people, which makes it easier to capture compelling images. There are many nature preserves and natural areas in Florida (Everglades, Big Cypress, Viera Wetlands, etc.) but I've found that almost any beach or forested area teems with birds of all kinds - a vast array of shorebirds (including my favorite, black skimmers), osprey, Eagles, and other raptors, burrowing owls, spoonbills, flamingos, egrets, herons, pelicans - too many to list.

An often overlooked paradise for waterfowl is Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, especially in the "shoulder" seasons - spring and fall. I've gone there often, and have never been disappointed. It's also a fantastic place for amazing land and seascapes.

For mammals, the obvious choices would be places like Yellowstone (America's Serengeti), Alaska, and Churchill, to name but a few.

Thank you, Abinoone! Seems that Florida is rising in the polls! Had not heard of Chincoteague but will add it to my list. I've been to America's Serengeti and loved it...definitely going back. Not familiar with Churchill, is that Churchill, Alaska? Take care....Jim

 

[mrt]

Try Sacramento River valley refuges for close in waterfowl, raptors, and a goodly assortment of passerines. Check eBird for species and numbers ( thousands of snow geese for example.)