Texas Birds in Flight

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At a Glance

Location

McAllen, Texas

Tuition

$4,495

Dates

May 20 – 23, 2027

Fitness Level

Easy

Availability

Limited to 8 Guests

Collections

Short Escape

Texas Birds in Flight Photography Workshop

Name: Texas Birds in Flight
Start: 2027-05-20
End: 2027-05-23
Location: Texas Birds in Flight

A focused approach to photographing birds on perches and in flight

May 20 – 23, 2027

Photograph songbirds and raptors against clean backgrounds
Morning and evening sessions in multiple blinds for varied images
A 4:1 guest-to-pro ratio for hands-on teaching on action images

In the scrublands of South Texas, a mix of resident and migratory birds are drawn into the same space by the reliable availability of water and food. From a series of well-positioned blinds, you’re able to photograph a wide variety of species and behaviors at close range.

Rather than searching for birds across large areas, you’ll be positioned at dawn as activity builds, with songbirds, raptors, and seasonal migrants moving between perches and pools of water just a few meters in front of you.

What makes this setting so effective is the opportunity to slow down and refine your approach. Birds return repeatedly, allowing you to adjust compositions and experiment as conditions evolve. Clean, distant backgrounds and carefully considered perch placement make it possible to isolate subjects in a way that is rarely achievable in the field. Rather than reacting to fleeting moments, you begin to anticipate them.

Species here range from Painted, Indigo, and Varied Buntings to green jays, crested caracaras, harris’s hawks, golden-fronted woodpeckers, long-billed thrashers, and scissor-tailed flycatchers, to name just a few.

Throughout the workshop, your instructors will work closely with you in the field and during image reviews, helping you develop a more consistent and thoughtful approach to photographing birds. With a small group, just four per hide alongside one pro, there is time for individual guidance, whether that’s refining focus technique, capturing birds in flight, improving composition, or anticipating behavior.

By the end of your time in South Texas, you will leave with a strong portfolio of bird images, but more importantly, with a clearer understanding of how to approach bird photography on your own. The goal is not just to capture striking images here, but to build skills that translate far beyond this setting.

Your Pros

Pam Dorner

Richard Bernabe

Itinerary

About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.

This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.

May 20, 2027: Arrival, Orientation, First Blinds Session

You’ll arrive in South Texas and meet your pros and fellow guests in the mid-afternoon. After a brief introduction and orientation, you’ll head out for your first session in the blinds. This initial session is designed to get you comfortable with the setup and to dial in exposure, autofocus, and composition as birds move through the scene. You’ll photograph a range of species at close distance, with time to adjust as opportunities repeat. After the session, you’ll return to town for dinner.

May 21–22, 2027: Early Morning Blinds, Editing Session, Afternoon Blinds

You’ll begin early, heading out before sunrise to be in position as the first light reaches the perches and reflection pools. Working from a variety of morning and evening blinds, you’ll photograph both songbirds and larger species throughout the day.

During the midday heat, you’ll return to town for lunch and a (short) joint editing session. This is an important part of the workshop, as it allows you to refine your approach before the next session.

In the mid-afternoon, you’ll head back to the blinds for a second session, working in softer light and often with different behavior and species.

May 23, 2027: Breakfast, Image Review, Departure

On your final morning, you’ll enjoy a relaxed breakfast followed by a longer image review. This is a chance to revisit your images from the workshop, reinforce key concepts, and ask any remaining questions before departing for flights after midday.

Testimonials

Konrad M.

Bosque del Apache '26

Pam single-handedly, with one line, had me changing focus area and boom! Suddenly I'm shooting tack sharp shots of birds in flight as if I'd been doing it for years!

Howard W.

Bosque del Apache '25

This was my first Muench workshop. The teacher student ratio allowed for individual attention and assistance.

Jim N.

Bosque del Apache '25

Pam did a great job putting us in the right place at the right time.

Jason S.

Outer Banks: Shape

The instruction is what really makes Muench workshop a Muench workshop. From the field to dedicated image reviews, the pros always go the extra mile in explaining their creative process and showing how they process images.

Maria B.

Outer Banks: Shape

Richard was exceptional - very hands on, never took his camera out (which is rare to see with an instructor), and walked around to make sure everyone got the shot. To make the most of our short time, he got up at 4AM to scope the weather and adjust our itinerary.

Joann K.

Tigers of India '26

Richard is a fantastic teacher - he is always teaching on new topics, wildlife composition, and helping me see in new ways. With several image reviews throughout this workshop, it was incredibly valuable to glean his knowledge and expertise.

Christine N.

Namibia '25

The fact that every detail is taken care of: from pick up and drop off at the airport, to covering entrance fees and gratuities means that participants only have to concentrate on getting the best photos and is a feature of Muench Workshops that would certainly encourage me to recommend it to a friend.

Kathy M.

Outer Banks '25

Richard is thoughtful and able to give constructive criticism and show how things can be better during an image review. In the last image review I intentionally put up images that I thought were not strong compositionally and wanted a discussion on why they did/didn't work. It was a fascinating discussion with both validation of my skills and ways to improve.

Gallery

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, cardinal bird, spread wings, flight, cactus, spines, green leaves, purple flowers, daylight, clear sky

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, painted bunting, small bird, blue feathers on head, red chest feathers, bright green back feathers, wet feathers, splashes of water, shallow water, blurred stones in background, purple flowers in background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, bird in flight, cardinal bird, red wings, orange beak, tree stump, green blurred background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, crested caracara, two turkey vultures perched on branches, caracara with wings spread in flight, dry branches with green leaves, cactus in foreground, blurred natural background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, scissor tailed flycatcher, bird in flight, gray and orange feathers, water droplets, green blurred background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, northern mockingbird, bird, brown and white plumage, long tail, perched on branch, green leaves, dense foliage, daylight

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, northern cardinal bird, red plumage, black facial mask, perched on branch, green leaves

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, red winged blackbird, small bird, perched on branch, colorful plumage, green leaves, blurred background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, crested caracara, three crested caracara birds, one bird landing, two birds on grassy ground, open outdoor environment, green blurred background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, red winged blackbird, northern cardinal, black bird with red wing patch, red bird flying, wooden tree stump, green blurry background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, red winged blackbird, black bird with red and orange patch on wing, perched on weathered tree stump, green leaves on plant, blurred natural background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, great kiskadee, bird with black and white head pattern, brown wings, perched on a branch, green leaves, outdoor natural setting

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, long billed thrashers, brown bird in flight, cactus with spines, purple flowers, green leaves, blurred green background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, long billed thrasher, brown bird with spotted chest, yellow eye, beak touching water droplet, smooth rocks, purple flowers, green leaves, still water

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, black vulture, wrinkled head skin, beak, feathers, eye, close up, bird

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, painted bunting, colorful bird, water droplets, splashing water, rocky background, purple flowers

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, cardinal, bird with raised wings, crested bird, yellow beak, perched on cactus, green cactus with spines, gray and brown feathers, outdoors, daylight

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, green jay bird, blue and black head, long blue tail, perched on branch, red tubular flowers, sharp beak, feathers visible

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, caracara bird, dry twisted log, prickly pear cactus, green grass, blurry forest background

muench workshops photo, usa, texas, bird, small bird, female cardinal, orange beak, rocks, water reflection, purple flowers, green leaves, garden, sunlight

Photographing Using Perch Setups

Much like feeding birds in your garden, the ranch uses water features and natural food sources to encourage birds to visit the area regularly. In this region, where water can be limited, these resources also support local and migratory species.

Birds are free to come and go, and no animals are handled or restrained. Setups are designed to reflect natural behavior, allowing for repeatable photographic opportunities while maintaining a respectful approach to wildlife. Birds of prey are attracted to certain setups using small amounts of meat. However, this is not done daily, and they continue to maintain a natural diet outside of workshop periods.

Fitness

Easy: Photography is from seated positions in blinds, with minimal walking and a midday break built into the schedule.

Flights

Arrive at McAllen Miller International Airport (MFE), McAllen before 2:00 PM on May 20, 2027. Flights out can be made after 2:00 PM on May 23, 2027. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.

What to Bring

Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.