The Central Texas Coast and the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is the winter home of the endangered Whooping Crane. These majestic birds migrate to Aransas National Wildlife Refuge each year from their breeding grounds in North Central Canada. We take a boat trip through the coastal marshes of Aransas in search of the Cranes and several species of egrets, herons, ducks, gulls and terns.  

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After the boat trip, we travel to nearby hotspots such as the Rockport-Tule Creek Nature Preserve, the Lamar Peninsula and Goose Island State Park to bird the extensive windswept Live Oaks, coastal scrub and the adjacent coastal marshes and prairies where we may see species including Brown Pelican, Black Skimmer, Olive Sparrow and Long-billed Thrasher..

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We venture towards Corpus Christi to visit Hazel Bazemore County Park where we have the opportunity to see migratory raptors, Green Jays and Great Kiskadees. We also include Corpus Christi hotspots: Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve, Pollywog Pond, Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center, Packery Channel and the Aplomado Falcon Viewing Platform at Mustang Island. We round out our trip by visiting the Kingsville area, including the King Ranch, to look for White-tailed Hawk, Harris's Hawk, Hooded Oriole, Curve-billed Thrasher and other species.

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Best times to visit and what to expect:

Mid April through Mid May during spring migration- Neotropical migrants

November through March - Whooping Cranes, wintering waterfowl 

Some of the resident species found year-round include Black Skimmer, Brown Pelican, Reddish Egret, Great Kiskadee and Aplomado Falcon among others.

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