Blogs

How to Set Back Button Focus – Canon R5

How to Set Back Button Focus – Canon R5

How to Set Up Back Button Focus (BBF) on Canon EOS R5 for Bird Photography Why Use Back Button Focus for Bird Photography? Because birds are not models. They don’t pose, they don’t wait, and they certainly don’t care if your autofocus is thinking about it. Back Button Focus gives you the power to decide when to lock in. When a bird lands perfectly on that branch — lock it. When it takes off like it’s late for a meeting — track it smoothly. By moving focus to a dedicated button, you avoid the classic “oops, it refocused on that…
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Where to Bird in Southeast Texas: Swamps, Shorebirds & Slightly Sweaty Joy

Where to Bird in Southeast Texas: Swamps, Shorebirds & Slightly Sweaty Joy

Before you grab your binocs and chase that next lifer, just a quick note: this list highlights some of the most popular birding locations in the region, with only the basics to get you started. Think of it as a beginner’s guide for your next birdy road trip. We’re working on adding even more locations, juicy details, seasonal tips, and probably a few “you had to be there” birder stories. And hey—if you’re out exploring Texas, keep an eye out for Michael in the Texas Birder camper. He’s crisscrossing the state one birding hotspot at a time, likely parked under…
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Cranky Birders and Happy Warblers: A Spring Migration Story

Cranky Birders and Happy Warblers: A Spring Migration Story

When the birds are cheerful, but the humans need a snack. Spring Migration at High Island and Sabine Woods: Where the Birds Are Plentiful and the Crankiness Occasional Ah, spring migration in Texas — that magical time when warblers, vireos, buntings, and thrushes descend on our coastal sanctuaries like feathery confetti from the sky. Nowhere is that birdy abundance more spectacular than High Island and Sabine Woods — the crown jewels of Texas coast birding. Every April, these oak mottes along the Gulf fill up with exhausted, brightly colored migrants and equally colorful birders, some wearing camo vests with more…
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Where Birds Fly and Families Bond: The Magic of Spring Migration on the Texas Coast

Where Birds Fly and Families Bond: The Magic of Spring Migration on the Texas Coast

(Header photo is a Prothonotary Warbler at Sabine Woods) Every spring, like clockwork and magic combined, the Texas Gulf Coast transforms into a living tapestry of feathers, song, and spectacle. For those of us lucky enough to find ourselves at High Island or Sabine Woods during peak migration, it’s more than just birding — it’s a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest performances. At places like Boy Scout Woods, Hooks Woods, and Smith Oaks on High Island — and the almost mythical Sabine Woods just a bit further east — the trees seem to hum with energy. One moment…
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Winging It Across Texas: The Texas Birder Camper Takes Flight (Sorta)

Winging It Across Texas: The Texas Birder Camper Takes Flight (Sorta)

If You See This Camper, There’s a Birder Inside (And Maybe Snacks) Texas Birder is hitting the road.Soon, I’ll again be out on the backroads and birding trails of Texas, not just chasing birds but spreading the word about Texas Birder—a growing online hub built just for folks like you who brake for hawks and rearrange weekend plans for warblers.The Texas Birder website is packed with helpful resources for birders of all levels: from ID guides and gear reviews to birding events, photo galleries, and even the occasional bird-themed joke (because yes, we believe birding should be fun and educational).…
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Where to Bird in the Texas Panhandle: Grasslands, Canyons, and Sky-High Surprises

Where to Bird in the Texas Panhandle: Grasslands, Canyons, and Sky-High Surprises

Before you grab your binocs and chase that next lifer, just a quick note: this list highlights some of the most popular birding locations in the region, with only the basics to get you started. Think of it as a beginner’s guide for your next birdy road trip. We’re working on adding even more locations, juicy details, seasonal tips, and probably a few “you had to be there” birder stories. And hey—if you’re out exploring Texas, keep an eye out for Michael in the Texas Birder camper. He’s crisscrossing the state one birding hotspot at a time, likely parked under…
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Where to Bird in Central Texas Where to Bird in Central Texas: Hill Country Highlights and Austin-Area AwesomenessWhere to Bird in Central Texas

Where to Bird in Central Texas Where to Bird in Central Texas: Hill Country Highlights and Austin-Area AwesomenessWhere to Bird in Central Texas

Before you grab your binocs and chase that next lifer, just a quick note: this list highlights some of the most popular birding locations in the region, with only the basics to get you started. Think of it as a beginner’s guide for your next birdy road trip. We’re working on adding even more locations, juicy details, seasonal tips, and probably a few “you had to be there” birder stories. And hey—if you’re out exploring Texas, keep an eye out for Michael in the Texas Birder camper. He’s crisscrossing the state one birding hotspot at a time, likely parked under…
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