looking for a place to shoot on Saturday

[PEC]

My Saturday has opened up and looking for suggestions on a nice place to get some landscapes/nature/wildlife photos :)

Done the zoos, not particularly interested in doing them this time of year - too hot for the animals to be active.

Thinking maybe something around Texoma or Ray Rogers SP. Want to stay within an hours drive.

A rookery could be fun....

I doubt any eagles are around, but does anyone know of any birds of prey sanctuary in the area?

Done PugMark Park several times... looking for something kinda new.

Open to your suggestions.

Thanks!

PEC added 9 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

i have seen a rookery on Lake Lewisville by Highland Village (just west of I35), but don't think there is a way to shoot it close..... does anyone know if you can get close to these egrets?

[CaptainTom]

Have you been to the rookery in DOWNTOWN DALLAS ?

CaptainTom added 2 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

[PEC]

once a few years ago.... are the birds still there this late in the summer? Does the foliage block your view?

Thanks for the suggestion.

PEC added 1399 Minutes and 9 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

is it safe to go by yourself there?

[zeroendless]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Have you been to the rookery in DOWNTOWN DALLAS ?

Huh, Thanks for the posting the link.... i need to have a talk with them --regardless of non-profit wildlife sanctuary or not - organization, why can't they just ask permission to use the images

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by zeroendless

Huh, Thanks for the posting the link.... i need to have a talk with them --regardless of non-profit wildlife sanctuary or not - organization, why can't they just ask permission to use the images

I am assuming that they are using some photos of yours that you did not release to them ?

[zeroendless]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

I am assuming that they are using some photos of yours that you did not release to them ?

Yes Tom, a long story ,,,,

There's bad publicity going on between the University (property owner) and the rookery (if you've read on local news) so they've been doing the damage control since then.

Anyway, I gave local bird group permission to use some of my images so they can pursue the University to complete the educational signs on the Rookery, for the cause u know, but it's for the use of making the educational sign and sign only (clearly stated). Last time they told me it's a done deal and the University will pay for the sign. That's all good but somehow they are showing up at this web site u linked. I wonder they are passing it around likes freebies and not even credit the photographers. WTF.

i tried to be helpful, donate something i could for the rookery, it've been serving me well and the local birders are friends and i know they worked hard to get the University to restore the damages they've done to the rookery... but now i am ...

zeroendless added 26 Minutes and 51 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by PEC

My Saturday has opened up and looking for suggestions on a nice place to get some landscapes/nature/wildlife photos :)

Done the zoos, not particularly interested in doing them this time of year - too hot for the animals to be active.

Thinking maybe something around Texoma or Ray Rogers SP. Want to stay within an hours drive.

A rookery could be fun....

I doubt any eagles are around, but does anyone know of any birds of prey sanctuary in the area?

Done PugMark Park several times... looking for something kinda new.

Open to your suggestions.

Thanks!

PEC added 9 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

i have seen a rookery on Lake Lewisville by Highland Village (just west of I35), but don't think there is a way to shoot it close..... does anyone know if you can get close to these egrets?

Not meant to steal your thread...

As a local idiot driving around for the past 4-5 years searching for birds, there's only one rookery you can get close, perhaps best in the nation because it's so freaking unique; not protected by the nature, swamp and gators but humans, right inside the city. The site is thick with vegetation, not enough background separation for decent photographs, but it's 20 minutes driving distance. No complaint.

I remembered one year the rookery tripled due the excessive rain and they were building nests on the back alley inches from the ground, so close you could touch them.

Have you ever seen a rookery image taken with 15mm fisheye ? :) That's how unique that place is...

[PEC]

Well, I ended up going to UT Southwestern... inbetween storms this morning... quite a few birds but growth was VERY thick. Only clear shots where the ones at the tops of the trees against a grey sky. :(

No keepers

[zeroendless]

Originally Posted by PEC

Well, I ended up going to UT Southwestern... inbetween storms this morning... quite a few birds but growth was VERY thick. Only clear shots where the ones at the tops of the trees against a grey sky. :(

No keepers

The weather this morning is what i call a rest day and definitely not the right day for SWMC, but hang in there..... SWMC rookery may be unique but is one of the hardest site for photography. It ain't like luxury & vacation style sites from Venice or High Island Rookery but you'll learn a great deal of nature photography dealing with inconsistent lighting in thick forest environment. :)