Group Size

3 participants
Meals

No meals
Arrival Airport

San Antonio International Airport, TX (SAT)
Departure Airport

San Antonio International Airport, TX (SAT)
Transportation

Van
Accomodation

standard hotel rooms in San Antonio and Rockport, Texas

Description of Texas: Whooping Cranes & Wading Birds

Situated on the edge of the San Antonio Bay, just north of Rockport, Texas, sits Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge has the distinct privilege of being the over-wintering destination for the majority of the endangered Whooping crane. Once decimated to only 15 individuals, the Aransas whooping crane population now numbers close to 500. With only about 800 individuals on the planet, between this population, the handful of other wild populations in North America, and those in captivity, these birds are beyond a doubt a rarity.

As the refuge covers 115,000 acres, finding these cranes can be difficult. However, on this photo adventure, I partner with Captain Kevin and Captain Lori who have several decades of combined experience in the refuge. They are familiar with the birds’ behavior, territories, and have the knowledge and skill to get us in position for our shots without disturbing the birds. Approaching from the water via boat, we are able to gain access to a larger portion of the refuge and observe the whooping cranes as they forage for their favorite prey: blue crabs.

After spending the mornings on the boat, we will break for lunch before heading to a piece of private property next to the refuge where the owners have a comfortable wildlife blind for us to observe more crane action up close. Perfect for portrait shots and social behavior images.

Beyond the whooping cranes, there will be the opportunities to photograph other birds such as waterfowl, egrets, herons, roseate spoonbills, sandhill cranes, and pelicans.

NOTE: Most Whooping Crane Photography Workshops run this tour with 5 photographers which is the maximum the boat can hold. We are running this workshop with only 3 photographers so that each photographer has plenty of room in the boat and blind.

*Although we will eat our meals as a group, meals costs are not included in this tour.

Highlights of Texas: Whooping Cranes & Wading Birds

Hands-on photo instruction for bird photography with a Tamron Ambassador
Most companies run this workshop with 5 photographers which is a completely full boat and we are only taking 3 so that photographers have plenty of room!
Photographing the iconic Whooping Cranes from a shallow draft boat and bird blinds allowing close approach and incredible images.
Photograph other spectacular wading birds and waterfowl such as herons, egrets, Roseate Spoonbills, Sandhill cranes, and pelicans.
This tour is a new offering in the Wildside Weekender Series featuring shorter trips and focused subjects.

Day 1 :

Arrive in San Antonio, TX

We will meet this evening for dinner and a meet and greet. We will discuss what to expect, photography strategies, logistics, wildlife photography ethics and blind photography protocol.

Day 2 :

Drive to Rockport, TX and evening search for whooping cranes and wading birds

Leaving San Antonio after breakfast, we drive towards Rockport, taking the back highways and looking for various raptors such as crested caracaras, red tailed hawks, and kestrels. Arriving in Rockport, we check into our accommodations before heading back into the field to search for whooping cranes from land. Other avian species such as sandhill cranes, American white pelicans, great blue herons, snowy egrets, roseate spoonbills, and various raptors are possible subjects as well.

Day 3 & 4 :

Morning on the water with whooping cranes before an afternoon in a blind

We will head out on the water predawn to be out near the whooping cranes as the sun comes up. On the water with the cranes and other birds, such as American oystercatchers, osprey, terns, and pelicans, for up to six hours. Returning to shore we will get lunch at a local eatery before heading to a special blind located on private property. We have special permission to photograph from this blind at these specific times. The whooping cranes are known to visit the area, along with sandhill cranes, whistling ducks, and whitetail deer. This special viewing blind gives us up close and personal photography opportunities for this rare and endangered species.

Day 5 :

Morning in a blind before returning to San Antonio, TX for flights home

Up early, we will spend our last morning back in the blind. Again, there is the opportunity to see whooping cranes, sandhill cranes, whistling ducks, and whitetail deer from this vantage point in the morning light. By 10am we will start driving back to San Antonio in order to get everyone to the airport before evening flights.