1 / 68
Narraganset Bay and a stunning sunrise, from nearly 20,000 feet.
Canon EOS R5 | EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Hali J Sowle
2 / 68
Sunrise from 20,000 feet, just over Narragansett Bay
Canon EOS R5 | EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Hali J Sowle
3 / 68
Willet at sunset finding a bite to eat as the day comes to a close at Whitecap Beach
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
4 / 68
I liked this image of a Willet because of the way that the late afternoon light was coloring only part of the water in the image.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
5 / 68
Mike getting ready to photograph another beautiful sunrise, Whitecap Beach.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
6 / 68
Sunset ICM, Whitecap Beach.
Canon EOS R5 | EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Hali J Sowle
7 / 68
Fly away into the night. A whimbrel flys down the beach at North Padre Island framed by the colors of sunset.
Canon EOS R5 | EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Hali J Sowle
8 / 68
Sometimes a cloudless sky is not what you want. This nearly cloudless sunrise was beautiful anyway.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
JM Sowle
9 / 68
A Willet, silhouetted by the rising sun behind it. Whitecap Beach.
Canon EOS R5 | EF24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
Hali J Sowle
10 / 68
Our favorite coffee shop had some interesting decor.
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 5.7mm f/1.5
11 / 68
The coffee shop was constructed from cargo containers!
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 5.7mm f/1.5
12 / 68
A little blue heron that we spotted along the causeway (yes, sometimes they are white).
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
13 / 68
This is just a little blue heron, but I love the light on the bird and the color of the vegetation in the background.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
14 / 68
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
15 / 68
American White Ibis taking a break from scouring the mud for breakfast.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
16 / 68
A marbled godwit fluffing it's feathers (piloerection) during a morning walk along the causeway waters. The spot of mud on the beak shows you that this bird is wiling to dig down to find food.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
17 / 68
This Willet shot was taken along Texas 361, just North of Tortuga Dunes (Zahn Rd).
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
18 / 68
We went to the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center a few times. Part of the path down to the water is smothered in these yellow flowers that one local called 'Sunflowers'.
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 5.7mm f/1.5
JM Sowle
19 / 68
I believe that this is a female common grackle. We spotted this one sitting on a marine piling.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
20 / 68
American White Pelicans at the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
21 / 68
A roseate spoonbill
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
22 / 68
Mike, surrounded by sunflowers and a blue sky, during our walk on the first day at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
23 / 68
Wild Sunflower at Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center in Port Aransas.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
24 / 68
Off in the distance in the marsh at Leonbelle Turnbull Birding Center there was a group of comorants. I love their incredibly blue eyes.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
25 / 68
White Ibis have the most amazing blue eyes!
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
26 / 68
A laughing gull in winter plumage at whitecap beach. They look so very different in breeding colors!
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
27 / 68
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
28 / 68
A ruddy turnstone cruising the beach on a fine afternoon.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
29 / 68
For the fast moving Sanderlings, the hunt for sand crabs is never ending!
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
30 / 68
One of many Sanderlings that we spotted running around in the surf in the afternoon light.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
31 / 68
Red Knot forging for clams at the shoreline, Whitecap Beach.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
32 / 68
Even the super energetic Sanderlings have to rest once in a while. Here, two of them take a quick break in last of the late afternoon sun.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
33 / 68
This brown pelican was sitting in nice afternoon light at the marina on the causeway. It's just a pelican, but I'm a sucker for anything in good light!
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
34 / 68
A great blue heron overlooking the water from the marina on the causeway.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
35 / 68
Brown Pelican at the boat docks on the causeway under the John F. Kennedy Bridge.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
36 / 68
This may have been a boat masters shack on the causeway under the JFK, Jr Bridge
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
37 / 68
American Oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
38 / 68
A delicate looking (and endangered) Piping Plover made an appearance for us on a cloudy day.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
39 / 68
We saw this cool mural in the Island Bakery, on West Avenue G in Port Aransas. Note the fish swimming with a plastic shopping bag on it's head. The same artist did a cool shark mural outside a nearby surf shop.
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 1.57mm f/1.8
JM Sowle
40 / 68
This was near the Rockport Center for the Arts. We always knew Hali had wings!
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 5.7mm f/1.5
JM Sowle
41 / 68
If you enjoy bird watching, then you really need to watch a Reddish Egret canopy feeding. They dance and hop around while using their wings to shadow the water -- it's really fun to watch. And they are very successful hunters!
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
42 / 68
A Snowy Egret hunting in the beach surf at sunset and catching a lot of fish!
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
43 / 68
Sanderling all puffed up at sunset on Whitecap Beach.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
44 / 68
Sanderling searching for a last bite at Whitecap Beach as the sun goes down benind us
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
45 / 68
Mike photographing the sunrise on Whitecap Beach.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
46 / 68
Marbled Godwit in morning light at Sunset Lake Park.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
47 / 68
Tricolored Heron, Egretta tricolor
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
48 / 68
Black skimmers are the only bird for which the lower mandible is longer than the upper mandible. These two are hiding their beaks while resting.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
49 / 68
Great Egret, Ardea alba
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
50 / 68
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
51 / 68
Tricolored Heron waiting and watching on a washed up pail, Corpus Christi Bay.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
52 / 68
Multiple Exposure/ICM of grasses at the Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlies Pasture
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
53 / 68
Another great blue heron
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
54 / 68
A brown pelican, diving for fish from the causeway out to North Padre Island.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
55 / 68
The rising sun glistens like gold on the sand of Whtiecap Beach, contrasting with the blue of sky reflecting in the sand.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
56 / 68
Beautiful sunrise light on the gulf waters at Whitecap beach. ICM
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
57 / 68
Hali was chasing a double rainbow in Mustang Island State Park (you can barely see the second rainbow in this image).
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 1.57mm f/1.8
JM Sowle
58 / 68
A tricolored heron with a multi-colored (rainbow) background.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
59 / 68
Great Blue Heron sits on a post oblivious to the beautiful rainbow behind it.
Canon EOS R5 | RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Hali J Sowle
60 / 68
We often stop in at a local surf shop or two when we are visiting a beach area. This one had a board with a crazy custom paint job. BoardHouse Surf and Skate, in Port Aransas.
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 5.7mm f/1.5
JM Sowle
61 / 68
This was a large mural outside of the surf shop in Port Aransas.
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 5.7mm f/1.5
JM Sowle
62 / 68
Great Blue Heron
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
63 / 68
Tricolored piloerection
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR
JM Sowle
64 / 68
Hali at Sunset Island, waiting to see if we will have a good sunset this afternoon (phone pic).
iPhone 13 Pro | iPhone 13 Pro back triple camera 5.7mm f/1.5
JM Sowle
65 / 68
Sunrise on our second-to-last morning at the beach...
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
JM Sowle
66 / 68
Our last sunset together (for this trip)
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
JM Sowle
67 / 68
Our last morning at the beach was a wonderful sunrise -- a great end to a wonderful trip!
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
JM Sowle
68 / 68
This image was the result of Mike playing around with some sunrise images. This is an HDR using 3 images, and then doing some 'digital psuedo-ICM'.
NIKON Z 8 | NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
JM Sowle