Join Jennifer Leigh Warner for an exciting trip to photograph Whooping Cranes on the Texas coast. Whooping Cranes are North America’s largest bird and they remain endangered with fewer than an estimated 600 birds remaining in the wild.  Whooping Cranes spend the winter on the Texas coast at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.  This regional event presents a unique opportunity to get up to close to the birds via boat as well as photographing other Texas coastal birds like roseate spoonbills, brown pelicans, and more.

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Highlights

· Hands-on photo instruction for wildlife and landscape photography with Nikon Professional Jennifer Leigh Warner

· Explore the coastal wildlife habitats of Northern California and photograph the native wildlife that winter in this region.

· Learn about the importance of setting aside habitat for endemic species such as the Tule Elk and endangered species like the California Sea Otter.

· Photograph the Monarch Butterflies during their winter stopover in Santa Cruz and see how they cluster together in large groups on the eucalyptus trees.

· Photograph California’s predator species like bobcat, owls, and elephant seals and look for the very rare

Looking for a warm place to photograph this winter? Southern California has some of the richest biodiversity in the country. With one of the only mainland Harbor Seal and California Sea Lion rookeries in California you will be able to photograph harbor seals giving birth and teaching their new pups how to swim. You will also get a chance to photograph California Sea Lions surfing the waves. San Diego County is one of the best places in the country to photograph marine wildlife, including nesting Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Osprey and so much more. During this weekender you will photograph some of San Diego’s premier wildlife photography hotspots led by an award winning wildlife photographer who has spent over a decade photographing in this location.

Winter in Minnesota provides a unique opportunity to photograph owls and other birds that live in this winter wonderland.

We will spend 3 full days exploring the famous Sax-Zim Bog looking for owls including the Great Grey Owl, the Snowy Owl and the Northern Hawk Owl. We will also look for other boreal specialties like Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee, Canada Jay, and Northern Shrike. We’ll visit local feeders to look for rare Hoary Redpolls mixed into swirling flocks of Common Redpolls. Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskin, and Purple Finches also frequently visit feeders and can also be found foraging in conifers and birches throughout the region. We will also check berry-laden bushes for flocks of hungry Bohemian Waxwings.

Other exciting winter wildlife photography is possible in this area including Pine Marten, Ermine, Fox, Deer, Moose, Coyote and maybe if we are really lucky a Timber Wolf. You just never know what you may find.

We’ll use Duluth as our base for this tour, so you can unpack and stay in one hotel throughout this tour.

Hands-on photo instruction for wildlife and landscape photography with Nikon Professional Jennifer Leigh Warner

• Photograph the largest wildlife migration in North America as over half a million sandhill cranes arrive during their spring migration.

• Learn about the importance of the ecosystem along the Platte River and why this is such a critical stopover location for migrating birds.

• Photograph from photography blinds positioned along the Platte River for ideal viewing of the cranes as they take off from the river in the morning and return to the river in the evening.

Cuba is well-known for its amazing landscapes, vibrant culture and unique biodiversity. Birding in Cuba is extraordinary. According to the new Endemic Birds of Cuba: A Comprehensive Field Guide, 371 birds have been recorded in Cuba, including 26 which are endemic to the island and 30 which are considered globally threatened. Due to its large land area and geographical position within the Caribbean, Cuba is also extraordinarily important for Neotropical migratory birds—more than 180 species pass through during migration or spend the winter on the island.

Our itinerary takes you to several of the best and most beautiful bird photography locations in Cuba, providing opportunities to see many of Cuba’s endemic species and subspecies as well as many migrants. Along the way, we will meet people in local communities, stay mainly in Bed & Breakfast establishments (casas particulares) and eat in private restaurants (paladars), allowing you to experience Cuba’s rich culture, delicious food, friendly people, and generous hospitality.

Join Jennifer Leigh Warner and naturalist, Gabriel Lugo for a photographic trip of a lifetime!

As spring arrives in Central Texas, so does the famous wildflowers that grace the countryside. Texas Bluebonnets are just one of the many flowers that carpet the great wide open landscapes making it feel like you have walked into the Land of Oz. Flowers, birds and butterflies will be our target as well as stopping at some ranches for the opportunity to photograph longhorn cattle and even perhaps some ranch zebras.

This tour would be great as an extension to the Texas Spring Rookery Tour that ends the same day this tour begins or as a stand-alone tour.

Spring time in Florida is a truly special time. Birds nest early in the southeast so by mid-April chicks have arrived and parents are busy tending to their nests. Sandhill Cranes in Florida do not migrate so this is one of the only places in the lower 48 to see Sandhill Crane colts. These yellowish orange fluff balls don’t stay small for very long, so catching a glimpse of these endangered subspecies is a real treat.

Florida is bursting with new life in Spring, what better time to head to the Sunshine State to view and photograph nesting birds.  Join Wildlife photographer, Jennifer Leigh Warner for a few days of exploring Florida’s wetlands and parks.

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The Spring Wildlife Photography Workshop in Grand Teton is led North American Nature Photography Association Ethics Chair, Jennifer Leigh Warner. We will search out the abundant wildlife photography opportunities while capturing the iconic landscape compositions as well. A wide and diverse portfolio will be the takeaway for participants of this workshop!

Springtime in the Tetons is flush with beauty and photographic opportunities. With such a shortened growing season, both flora and fauna burst forth with energy and vigor to make the most of the warmth and food sources that appear. Young babies are welcomed into the world about this time as the wildflowers carpet the landscape. Elk, bison, moose, mule deer, and pronghorn are just a few of the commonly seen species in the area. Both black bears and grizzlies bring their cubs out of hibernation, and, with a bit of luck, we will capture them foraging and learning the “bear” necessities. 

With so much to see, you will be happy for the long days in the field. Evening will be reserved for rest, relaxation, and image critiques as requested.

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As the snow begins to melt, signs of life in Yellowstone start popping up everywhere. With new life arriving both blooms and baby animals litter the landscape. Bears begin to emerge from their dens and birds begin to make their nests.

If you would like a roommate we will make every effort to find one for you, however if we cannot match you with anyone the single supplement will apply.

Spring in Grand Teton National Park is a magical time when the landscape transitions from the quiet of winter to the vibrant awakening of nature. This is the time of year that bears emerge from hibernation (often with cubs!), elk begin migrating to higher elevations, and moose and bison graze in the valleys.

As the snow melts, the landscape bursts into life with colorful wildflowers carpeting the meadows and hillsides. Lupine, Indian paintbrush, and glacier lilies add splashes of color to the scenery.

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Southern California has some of the richest biodiversity in the country. With the Mediterranean climate, summertime along the California coast is comfortable all day long. From San Diego to Orange County there is no shortage of birds and wildlife to photograph. June is pupping season for California Sea Lions and La Jolla is one of the best places in the world to see newborn sea lion pups gathered together. With the beautiful weather, the rich wildlife viewing opportunities and the gorgeous scenery to photograph, what are you waiting for?

Namibia is packed with photographic potential. The oldest desert in the world, the Namib, dominates the country’s landscape. Take time to capture images in surrounding safari areas with exquisite flora, towering red dunes, bush country, and fascinating geological formations. Game drives in Etosha National Park include the “Big Five”—elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards—as well as giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, antelopes, and more. Learn about the conservation of cheetahs with the Cheetah Conservation Fund and AfriCat Foundation. Plus, get a taste of Namibia’s diverse cultures during a township tour near Swakopmund, where you'll meet residents, visit local markets, and try some traditional food.

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge provides one of the greatest bird and wildlife experiences for nature photographers in the United States. With flocks numbering into the 1,000’s and sometimes the 10,000’s Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese lifting off each morning and returning in the evening will overwhelm the senses and provide incredible photographic opportunities.

Combined with beautiful sunrises and sunsets the color palette can lend a dramatic flair to wildlife images. Lucky days we may also see and photograph Coyotes stalking at the edge of flocks or a Bobcat walking along a trail or dike. A local pond provides excellent opportunities to get low and shoot waterfowl at eye level.