Welcome to Mary Williams Hyde’s personal exploration of the vast lakes, marshes and wetlands of the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon, USA taking photos of hundreds of thousands of birds that migrate the Pacific Flyway through the vast Klamath Basin marsh, lake, and river wetlands every year and countless more live here year around.
My name is Mary Williams Hyde (pictured above). I have been a professional photographer since 1972. Two years ago I finally acquired a 150-600 mm Sigma lens for my Nikon D4s camera. I could finally photograph the wild birds that have been unwilling to come close enough for any other lens. Recently I added a 1.4 extender to have even more reach across the marshes. So, though for years I have sworn to friends I would NEVER become a birding photographer, I am now addicted to visiting the local refuges every chance I get. I am always hoping to get another “lifer” to add to the list of about 150 of 350 or so birds who live or migrate through here that I have photographed so far.
What refuges you ask???? It happens I live in Klamath Falls, Oregon which is within a half hour to forty-five minutes of several National Wildlife Refuges. My favorites so far: the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, the Tulelake National Wildlife Refuge, and the Miller Island Wildlife Refuge.
Sunset Magazine once ranked the Klamath Basin as the #1 birding location in the lower 48 states…and I believe it.
Check out this website for complete details of the 47 best places to bird, maps, and the history of the refuges in the Basin: www.klamathbirdingtrails.com
If you are a birder or bird photographer looking for a great place to spend a week or so, I recommend the Klamath Basin refuges. Usually every trip “out there” results in exciting opportunities to photograph either unexpected moments of wild behavior and/or new birds/animals I haven’t observed before.
I am available to guide groups up to 3-4. Contact me for details. 541 883-7456 or email me: mary@maryhyde.com
