Join Wildlife Photographer Jeremy Neipp to witness the wildlife spectacle at Merced NWR that happens each winter. Merced National Wildlife Refuge is home to roughly 100,000 migrating birds in the winter, amongst which are 60,000 artic migrating geese and 15,000 Sandhill Cranes.
Merced NWR is a vast expanse of marshland of which there are so many corners to explore. As someone who is local to the area and has visited plenty of times each winter, Jeremy will be able to help guide you to the best locations to setup and capture shots of each individual species that calls the marsh it’s home. You’ll also have the opportunity to work with Jeremy on camera techniques as he guides you through the best compositions and angles throughout your day.
Overview:
February 6th OR February 7th
1 Day | Merced, CA
$130 Single Person
Maximum 5 Participants
Itinerary
1:00-4:30PM:
We’ll be exploring the best places around the marsh I’ve found for specific bird species. While never a guarantee, this includes a good location for Black-Necked Stilt, Pintail, Teal, and Shoveler. We’ll also use this time to track down where the flock of Snow Geese and Sandhill Cranes have rested and attempt to capture photos of them. Depending on the year, a Rare Vermilion Flycatcher tends to visit a secret spot in the marsh as well. During this whole time, Jeremy will be giving recommendations on approaches and guiding your photography eye amidst the overwhelming amount of birds available.
4:30-6:00PM:
Around 4:30, we will begin preparing for sunset and drive to our final location at the refuge. Depending on the flocks positioning, we may be able to capture Snow and Ross’ Geese at sunset, but half the time they are dug too far back into the marsh. In the event they are inaccessible, we will be capturing either photos of shorebirds/waterfowl with pink toned hues in the water, or if we are lucky, we’ll see a Burrowing Owl out in the field hunting at sunset.
Also happy to answer any questions! The goal is to give a personal touch throughout your whole experience. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
More Details
Package Includes:
Photo guide and mentorship
Camera gear recommendations prior to the meetup via email
What’s Not Included:
Camera Gear or clothing
Transportation to and from Merced NWR
Other Notes:
A car will be required to journey through the auto loop
the possibility of stormy weather is always present at MERCED NWR in the winter, come prepared with appropriate clothing and rainproof gear or covers
Cancellation Policy:
Please cancel up to 30 days prior to the workshop start date, a full refund will be offered until this point
If cancelled within 30 days of the workshop, half the cost of the workshop will be refunded
