July 2026 Newsletter: Fall Tour Openings & Updates
Summer is moving quickly, and I wanted to share a few updates about upcoming photography tours and a new article on my website.
Fall Tour Openings
Two Openings Available on the November 30 – December 3 Cypress Swamp Photography Tour
Due to a recent schedule change, two spaces have become available on my November 30 – December 3, 2026 Cypress Swamp Photography Tour.
While the peak fall color has usually passed by early December, this time of year often provides the best opportunities for fog and mist. Many of my favorite cypress swamp photographs have been made during these quiet mornings when layers of fog drift through the trees, creating beautiful light and a peaceful atmosphere that is difficult to find at other times of the year.
If you’ve been considering joining us this fall, I’d love to have you along.
Learn more about the Fall Tour:
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Spring 2027 Tours Are Filling
Reservations continue to come in for the 2027 spring workshops, and two of the tours are already nearing capacity.
* April 18–21, 2027 – 2 spaces remaining
* June 6–9, 2027 – 2 spaces remaining
Each spring tour is scheduled to coincide with a different stage of the nesting season, providing opportunities to photograph everything from courtship displays and nest building to chicks as they grow and prepare to fledge.
If you’re thinking about photographing Louisiana’s spectacular bird rookeries next spring, I encourage you to reserve your space while openings are still available.
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New on the Blog – Alligators in Bird Rookeries
One of the most fascinating aspects of photographing Louisiana’s swamps is watching the complex relationships between the wildlife that lives there.
My newest blog article explores the role alligators play in bird rookeries and includes several short videos captured during a recent visit. It’s a fascinating reminder that nature is rarely as simple as it first appears.
I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read the article and watch the videos.
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Thank you for following my photography and for your continued support. I hope to see many of you in the swamps this fall or next spring.
Alligators in Louisiana Wading Bird Rookeries
Most people think of alligators simply as predators, but they also play an important role in protecting Louisiana’s wading bird rookeries. Raccoons, opossums, and other mammalian nest predators are reluctant to enter waters occupied by large alligators. As a result, many nesting colonies gain an added layer of protection during the breeding season. In return, the alligators occasionally benefit from chicks that fall from the nests above. It is one of nature’s many balances and an important part of a healthy wetland ecosystem.
Nature in Action
During one of my recent Louisiana Wildlife Photography Tours, I captured this relationship on video. The clip shows an alligator feeding on a chick that had fallen from the rookery. While it isn’t an easy scene to watch, it honestly documents how these ecosystems function. As wildlife photographers, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to record nature as it unfolds.
An Alligator eating an Egret Chick
From Stills to Video
The second video looks back nearly twenty years to a similar encounter photographed with a Nikon D2X. At that time, creating wildlife “video” meant assembling a rapid sequence of still photographs. Today’s cameras make capturing these moments much easier, but patience, observation, and time in the field remain the keys to successful wildlife photography.
Another Alligator Clip, this one assembled from a number of still images created with a D2X
Whether photographed nearly twenty years ago or on my most recent tour, these two videos illustrate the same story. Alligators are more than predators—they help maintain the healthy balance that makes Louisiana’s wading bird rookeries such remarkable places to observe and photograph wildlife.
Charles Bush Photography – June 2026 Newsletter
The 2026 Spring Louisiana Bird Photography Tours are now behind us, and I want to thank everyone who joined me. Each trip brought different conditions and opportunities, and we photographed everything from Great Egret courtship displays to nesting Roseate Spoonbills and growing chicks.
One of the things I enjoy most about these tours is that no two seasons are exactly alike. Weather, water levels, nesting activity, and especially light combine to create unique experiences, and this spring produced many memorable moments and some wonderful images.
Featured Video: Roseate Spoonbill Nesting Behavior
One of the highlights of the spring season was watching Roseate Spoonbills raise their young. I recently put together a short video showing some of the nesting activity we observed this year.
Fall Tours Are Full
I’m pleased to report that all three Fall 2026 Cypress Swamp Photography Tours are now completely full.
Thank you to everyone who signed up. Fall remains one of my favorite seasons in Louisiana, with beautiful color, quiet mornings, reflections, and dramatic light in the cypress swamps. I look forward to spending time on the water again this November.
Featured Story: Storm Light at Miller’s Lake
Many photographers think bright blue skies create the best photographs. In reality, some of the most dramatic light occurs just before a storm.
During one evening at Miller’s Lake, dark clouds created the perfect background while filtered sunlight illuminated a Tricolored Heron. I recently wrote a short article and included a brief video recorded from the boat just before we headed back to shore before the storm arrived.
2027 Spring Tours Are Now Open
Registration for the 2027 Spring Louisiana Bird Photography Tours is already underway, and I’ve already had my first photographer reserve a spot for next April.
The three tours are timed to capture different stages of the nesting season:
• April 18–21, 2027 – Courtship and early nesting activity.
• May 16–19, 2027 – Nesting birds and early chicks.
• June 6–9, 2027 – Larger chicks and the best opportunity for spoonbill chicks.
Each tour is limited to five photographers, allowing everyone plenty of room to work and take advantage of changing light and bird behavior.
Complete details are available here
More Stories Coming Soon
I still have several stories and videos from this spring that I look forward to sharing over the coming weeks.
As always, thank you for following along and for your continued support.