Whooping Crane Trip
Mar 29, 2019 20:47:52 #
I took a trip to Texas in February to see the Whooping Cranes in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge outside of Rockport, Texas on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Rockport is about 30 minutes north-east of Corpus Christi. To see the cranes the best you need to get on a boat and go into the Refuge to where the Cranes like to "hang out." These are magnificent birds that are slowly breeding their way off the endangered list. I even saw a young Crane called a "colt." They eat blue crabs as their main diet, but also snakes when the can get them, berries, and I just learned today - clams - whole. Had a great guide on a 6 hour "float" - unfortunately there was quite a bit of fog, but that only lent an air of mystery to these wonderful birds.
A bonded pair
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Flight through the marsh
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The young colt is on the right
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The young colt is on the left with the brown head
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Displaying in a field on a ride around the area
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Foster's Tern
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Savannah Sparrow in the bushes of the Refuge
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Mar 29, 2019 20:50:55 #
Mar 29, 2019 21:31:57 #
Glad you had a good time!
Image 5 shows how large they compared to a Sand Hill Crane.
Pat
Image 5 shows how large they compared to a Sand Hill Crane.
Pat
Mar 29, 2019 22:39:13 #
You hit the jackpot! I've been trying to get photos of them for years. Congratulations!
Mar 31, 2019 12:14:31 #
UTMike wrote:
Very nice work!
Thank you very much. I really enjoyed seeing these magnificent birds in the wild.
Mar 31, 2019 12:16:39 #
Jay Pat wrote:
Glad you had a good time!
Image 5 shows how large they compared to a Sand Hill Crane.
Pat
Image 5 shows how large they compared to a Sand Hill Crane.
Pat
Thank you Pat. Had an extremely tight schedule again in Texas. Was in San Antonio, then Rockport and ended up in Marble Falls for a day. I want to return again, because I love your area of Texas a lot, and I promise that I'll let you know so that you and your lovely wife and I can do lunch.
Mary Ellen
Mar 31, 2019 12:22:10 #
Retired CPO wrote:
You hit the jackpot! I've been trying to get photos of them for years. Congratulations!
I feel that I did hit it pretty good. I booked a trip on a boat out of Rockport, TX but it was one of those companies that put a lot of people on a boat and drive around hoping to see things. A couple days later I had a boat trip with Aransas Bay Birding Charters with Kevin and Lori Simms and it was a whole different experience, even if it was foggy. I booked a "shared charter" where you only pay for a portion of the charter cost. I paid $120.00 with them for a 6 hour trip versus $90 for a 3 hour trip with the first charter - and the boat had trouble getting started for an hour - so we only had a 2 hour trip. There was no comparison - Kevin piloted his boat with a private charter and I was with Lori and 2 other people. They stayed as long as we wanted to at a site and tried several different places for photo opportunities. The boat I had been on a couple days before was also out with another bunch of people and they only stayed in one place about 15 minutes before moving on. If you ever get down in that area when the Whoopers are there, hire Kevin and Lori - you won't be sorry that you did.
Mary Ellen
Apr 1, 2019 19:00:46 #
Apr 1, 2019 19:03:02 #
Thanks, I'm there right now...almost. San Antonio, not too far. I'm going to bookmark you're post and definitely look these guys up. I'll tell them you recommended them.
Apr 2, 2019 21:10:39 #
Retired CPO wrote:
Thanks, I'm there right now...almost. San Antonio, not too far. I'm going to bookmark you're post and definitely look these guys up. I'll tell them you recommended them.
Absolute tell them that and say hi to Lori for me. They have been having a wonderful season so far. There are super photos coming off of their Facebook Page. I know you will have a good time. Enjoy!!!
Mary Ellen
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